 A little about me...
I was born on April 9th 1973, a few days later my parents brought me to the family chalet at PEIRA CAVA (40 km from Nice, 1,500 m above sea leavel, 50 inhabitants), I lived there for 18 years.
School, with only two other pupils, was rather quiet and rural: walks in the forest, mushroom gathering and skiing in winter rather than grammar…Thus, going into 1st form (6th grade) was a huge shock since I couldn't even spell my name correctly. I was then rejected from the education system and found myself in the jungle of boarder schools for three years (two 1st forms and one 2nd form). That period was the hardest of my life but indesputably moulded and toughened my character.
In 1987, I went to another boarder school where the curriculum wasn't stupidly taught but adapted to the level of each pupil. I could then make up for the time I had lost and at 16 had above average marks. At the same time I discovered sports: running with my friend Elise every weekend and cycling on wednesday afternoons at school.
This was more than the simple discovery of sports. It made me realise I had the will to reach any target I set myself. For me school had lost its credibility (it had hurt me too much) and I bided my time until I could start my project. From then on, I devoted myself to sports as if out of gratefulness for helping me out of this bad spell.
So the desire to play sports professionally started early and at 15 I was already planning everything: marathons then triathlons, convinced that if I trained, as a crafstman goes to work, I would succeed.
I clung to that idea and my parents supported me. Finally, in Septembre 1993, after obtaining my diploma in Nice, I started my life as an athlete, as my schoolfriends started university.
As I was a bad swimmer, I concentrated more on duathlons, even if I was preparing the Nice triathlon which was my ultimate goal. As I often wanted to do too much, the first training months were chaotic, but I progressed steadily.
I joined the ASPTT Nice with Yves Cordier, Grégory Catus, Grégory Droeghmans and later Joël Roche.
In 1997, I left the coast, with its pollution, overpopulation and superficiality, to go to DIGNE-LES-BAINS to benefit from Gérard Honnorat's qualities as a coach. There I also met my physiotherapist Françoise Putz.
After finishing ont the podium of the duathlon World championship two-times in a raw, I became a member of the Team Giant Triasco (in Marseille) in 1999 together with Luc Besse, Edwige Pitel, Grég Droeghmans and Jacky Carlier as the manager.
In 2000 and 2001, I joined the club of Digne but couldn't stay for financial reasons and lack of support. It was also this year that I discovered a new discipline in England called XTERRA that will give a new boost to my carreer.
In 2002, I joined Olivier Spagnol (a member of the ASPTT in 96-97) who had started his own club in Villeneuve-Loubet: ESVL EfiKce.com, one of the best clubs nationally. For the first time, thanks to his work, personnal commitment and the support of the town, I was able to make a living as a sportsman.
In 2004 I rejoined the club of Digne where I found the support of the city and of the Conseil Général des Alpes de Haute Provence.
Cinema !
Films have played an important part in my life, guiding me, completing my education… Here is a short list of my personnal favourites, those I consider masterpieces and of topical interest:
BRAZIL by TERRY GILLIAM: a criticism of our society.
HAIR by MILOS FORMAN: against the Vietnam war, an example of all antiwar movements.
BLADE RUNNER by RIDLEY SCOTT: for the atmosphere and the music which give me energy.
All the movies by EMIR KUSTURIKA, with UNDERGROUND as my favourit for its hope and views on life.
DELICATESSEN by JEUNET and CARO: pure magic and creativity.
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE by STANLEY KUBRICK: again a criticism of our society.
C'EST ARRIVE PRES DE CHEZ VOUS by BENOIT POOLEVORDE: a criticism of the media and their part in conflicts.
LA STRADA by FELLINI, a great director.
MERCI LA VIE by BERTRAND BLIER, A great director.
UN AIR DE FAMILLE by BACRI and JAOUI: we can all recognise ourselves as in a mirror.
LA BELLE HISTOIRE by CLAUDE LELOUCH: everything happens by chance…everything is inevitable.
BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB by WIM WENDERS, a great director.
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