WHEN WAS YOUR VERY FIRST EQUESTRIAN COMPETITION? It was in 1977, I was riding a horse, Syrus if I recall correctly. It was during the Salon de l’Agriculture in Paris. Before that, I’ve done all the ponies competition, but that doesn’t count…
WHAT HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER? The team gold medal in Rio, obviously. I have a lot of great memories, but there are also the European Championships. It was my first individual medal, that was special.
IF YOU HAD NOT GONE INTO HORSE RIDING, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE DONE? At first I wanted to be a vet. But I think I would have surely done something in the sport domain though. Maybe boxing.
YOU TRAVEL A LOT. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CITY? Paris. Barbizon even. I don’t really have the time to visit when I leave for a competition so I can’t really enjoy the town. But I feel good at home, that’s why it’s my favorite town.
WHICH OBJECT DO YOU ALWAYS KEEP WITH YOU? My head. And my phone, when I don’t lose it!
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE ATHLETE? I don’t really have one sport person in particular. I like to watch great athletes perform and outcome themselves. But I don’t really spot one. Or maybe Rocky Balboa ! (laughs) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PIECE OF MUSIC? « Eye of the Tiger ». Reminds me of my youth.
YOU PREFER THE BEACH OR THE MOUNTAINS? Mountain. I can eat fondue there.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION? I DON’T REALLY TAKE HOLIDAYS BUT WHEN I DO, FOR THREE DAYS OR SO, I LIKE TO GO TO THE MOUNTAINS. THE ALPS.
WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT BEDTIME READING? I don’t read a lot… Magazines, sometimes.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FILM? Old movies of when I was younger. Rocky Balboa obviously. HAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COCKTAIL? I don’t drink alcohol. So Virgin Mojito it is! HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR IDEAL SUNDAY? Actually I work a lot more when I’m at home than when I am in competition. I train the horses, mostly 5 a day, because you don’t have time to rest with them. I do enjoy a little bit of home and family but I’m mostly in the stables all day.
WHAT IS YOUR EVERYDAY CAR? AND YOUR DREAM CAR? I have a Toyota thanks to my sponsor. But I’m not a materialist person, I am not specially a fan of one car in particular. I need it to take me to point A to point B, that’s all. I’d rather have a Grand Prix horse.
