The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Coronavirus: containment, an unprecedented challenge for athletes

2020-03-22T19:45:26.483Z


Accustomed to daily physical exercise, top athletes must, like everyone else, adapt to new constraints. They tell their story behind closed doors, with a view to a future recovery.


Marie-Eve Gahié, judokate, world champion

"My priority is to respect the rules that have been imposed on us by the government to fight against this virus. I stay at home to the fullest. Now, as we have the possibility of going out for sporting reasons, I take advantage of having a quiet little lane and a dead end near my home, so I can run a little outside, respecting the rules, since I stay right next to my home. Otherwise, my coaches and my fitness coach sent me a workout schedule, so I know what to do. Simply, I wanted to have equipment delivered, such as an exercise bike, but it was too complicated. So I do with what I have. I also have to be careful about what I eat, especially during my evening meals. I went shopping with my mother and tried to limit purchases, and therefore temptations. I try not to snack for nothing, but I recognize that it is not easy in confinement. I do something else so that I don't think about food. I bought crossword puzzles, for example. Or I watch series, I chat with my family, I call my friends. In fact, you have to try to be constantly entertained and mind-occupied, otherwise, yes, you feel hungry all the time. "

Samantha Davies, sailor of the Vendée Globe

"At the moment, I am CE2 teacher for my 8 year old son Ruben with math problems who talk about cakes and flour. Otherwise, with Romain (Attanasio, his companion, also in preparation for the Vendée Globe scheduled for November 8, Editor's note), we are the masters of containment. During our races, we are used to being confined to our boats. And so, here, we use the keys that we know when we are alone at sea. Like cutting time and planning and the day by programming activities. Regarding the preparation of the Vendée Globe, we will not complain and say that it is annoying. The Vendée Globe can wait. And what we are experiencing right now is the spirit of going around the world: one shit a day, and we don't know what's going to happen. In the meantime, we have something to take care of. I have not yet tilted my desk to 30 degrees but it will come (laughs). I have a long list: study of the round-the-world route, fall-back ports in the event of a problem, the boat's performance, preparation of my menus for refueling. And my physical coach sent me small videos with exercises to do using chairs, water bottles, rubber bands ... Our family is very sporty, so sport, we will continue, because we need it ... "

Yunis Abdelhamid, footballer at the Stade de Reims

“I don't go out at all, except in the garden to play with the children. I have a 4 and a half year old boy and a 2 year old daughter. They need to spend themselves. Inside, we try to vary the activities. Obviously, I talk physically. To keep busy, to let off steam but also out of necessity. When you spend even a week without doing anything, it is already complicated to resume training behind. So if the confinement lasts ... I do an hour in the morning, and between an hour and an hour and a half in the afternoon. A friend who has a cross-fit room sends me programs. This morning was rower, burpees and squats. In the afternoon, I am the session that the physical trainer of the club sent us. For example boxing, wave rope and cycling. We have a WhatsApp group with physical trainers and physiotherapists. We have to stay in shape to be ready for the recovery. Regarding food, I already used to be careful. You can't go to fast food of course. We still try to have fun with a candy or a square of chocolate from time to time. What is certain is that I am already in need of a ball, training and a match. I am out of phase. The main fear is that it will last for weeks and weeks. "

Jonathan Wisniewski, rugby player from LOU

“Since confinement, Sunday family meals have been every day. We bought a big house in Lyon a year ago, so we enjoy the garden with the children (a 6 year old boy and a little girl of almost 2 years old). It's the airy center! I have a gym at home with a bike, a squat cage, an elliptical, and everything that is elastic for weight training and stability exercises. I do one session a day. In the end, nobody knows where we are going and when we will resume. We have a WhatsApp group between players and I know that for apartment partners with their children, it's more complicated. I do not have to complain and I do the job of gardener. I can tell you that the house and the exteriors have never been so perfect. I did everything. Hand weeded the beds, replant, cut the borders, remove the weeds, I can deposit a CV at the town hall to take care of the green spaces (smile). More seriously, I wonder if I haven't had the coronavirus. I spent 12 to 13 days with a fairly violent fever and my nose was taken ... In the team, several players were in this case, but no one was tested. The club told us to stay home and not take any risks. What I have done. "

Florent Piétrus, basketball player from Orléans

"I'm in Orleans. We take care as we can ... We received a program to do at home to keep in shape. Gainage, abs, muscle strengthening ... We talk as best we can, without equipment for my part. But the hardest part is cardio. We can't replace it, and unfortunately, it's the most important ... The recovery? It will necessarily be complicated. It already takes time to get back in the bath and find the cardio after 3-4 days of rest, so if we are in confinement three weeks, a month or more, it will take all the more time. Afterwards, everyone will be in the same situation. So no question of complaining. In addition, we all understand the situation: we must show solidarity and good citizenship. Like others, we athletes have a message of responsibility to convey. If the season resumes, it will in any case be serious: it will be like a second pre-championship preparation to try to get back into shape as quickly as possible. (…) It's a bit weird as the last season (smile). Whatever happens, even if the season was definitely canceled, I think I will end there. Of course, this is not how I would have liked to end my career. In the meantime, we are patient. "

Ysaora Thibus, foilist, vice-world champion

“Two weeks ago, I went to Los Angeles to play a tournament which was finally canceled. With my companion (the American fencer Race Imboden), we decided to stay, because there was no confinement and it was always possible to train. And then the situation evolved towards tighter confinement. Today, we are staying with our physical trainer, and, for training, we have set up his garage. I mainly do physics, except that it is more of an interview than a real substantive work. It is not an easy situation to manage, because fencing is a very technical discipline, which requires specific equipment and space. But the hardest part is mentally. We have to stay focused, keep the same intensity, the same implication, when we don't have the same means. And then, I worry more about the current reality, with all these hospitals full. My mother works in a hospital, so she puts herself in danger to save other people. Who am I, little sportswoman, to complain? I just have to follow the instructions and wait. You also have to put things in perspective and think about people who cannot work, who already know or are going to have serious financial problems. "

Interview by Cédric Callier, Baptiste Desprez, Guillaume Loisy, Christophe Remise and Martin Couturié

Read also

  • Samantha Davies: “confinement looks like what I experience on my boat during the Vendée Globe”

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2020-03-22

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.