In one year, Romain Cannone has gone from an anonymous 47th place in the world in epee to the rank of number 1, an Olympic gold medal around his neck and the title of world champion in individual and team slung over his shoulder.
A tremendous rise which has not turned the head of this 25-year-old young man, who also began his career at EDF as a management controller and who is now part of Team Decathlon (33 athletes from different disciplines sponsored by the French equipment manufacturer until the Paris Olympics in 2024).
It was during the presentation of it, Tuesday evening in Paris, that the fencer confided in his working method.
Definitely inspiring, given its exceptional year.
Romain, what does it mean for you to join Team Decathlon for the 2024 Olympic Games?
Romain Cannon:
It is a major international brand, but also and first and foremost French, which made the right choice to join the ranks of the official partners of the Games for Paris.
It is also a brand that wants to write history in the sense that each athlete who is part of this Team will bring their own touch.
This is close to my heart.
The fact of having the possibility of creating a fencing outfit and of being able to leave a mark in my sport, that makes me happy, beyond the fact of going to get medals for France.
Sharing with a volleyball player or a sprinter can also give me ideas.
In fencing, there are plenty of people who use handball or volleyball shoes, and perhaps there is a correlation on the supports, on how you want a shoe.
Could you have been captain of this Decathlon team rather than Teddy Riner?
You want me to have problems?
(laughs) Teddy, I saw him when I was young in the stands at the Games, and now I'm part of his team, it's incredible.
Being able to spend time with such champions is a huge privilege and I can't wait for him to give me some keys to becoming a great champion like him.
It is almost surprising to hear you say that, you who are the reigning Olympic and world champion…
Maybe, but I am still very young in my mind, in my mind.
For example, Teddy, he's been at the top of his discipline for more than ten years, whereas I've only been really performing for a year.
I always have a hard time when people give me rave reviews or congratulate me, I never know how to bounce back from that.
I almost feel embarrassed, probably because I'm not used to it.
Romain Cannone Panoramic
From the Tokyo Games in July-August 2021 to the Worlds in Cairo in July 2022, you have had an incredible year…
Yes, I could never have imagined living this, an Olympic title, a world title, even two with the event by teams which is close to my heart.
There, I want to remain world number 1, I want to win other titles, I want to win this European Championship which escaped me, I want to impose myself in Paris in 2024… In fact, my objectives haven't changed and I'm going to put all the necessary means in order to continue like this.
How did you experience the failure of the European Championships, with an elimination as soon as you entered the running? Was it a booster shot?
It's true that I took it as a booster shot.
Or maybe no reminder, but like a sting, that's for sure (smile).
Of course, I completely missed it.
I had a lot of things to manage that I was not used to, such as the media, the various and varied requests, my new job that I started... I had to put all this in place in a very short time. time and I think I would have needed more.
Now, as soon as I lost, I immediately understood that I had to work even harder and that's what I did.
Which led, less than a month later, to the conquest of your first world title…
Yes, in my head, I outdid myself and that's what I like in sport.
This surpassing allows me to gain in maturity.
When I arrive in a situation that I don't know, I have this baggage behind me that brings out different tools or games, that makes me do unusual actions that surprise my opponents.
I didn't doubt myself in the sense that all year long, I believed in myself and I saw that I could perform.
Romain Cannone
From the outside, it looks like you didn't doubt. But is this really the case?
I must admit that I hadn't won a match before the Worlds, and it's never easy to bounce back after a defeat.
But I didn't doubt myself in the sense that all year long, I believed in myself and I saw that I could perform.
I said to myself that it was useless to put a spoke in my wheels by thinking that I was expected and that I had to be very good.
Instead, I focused on this chance of being able to compete in the World Championships.
In my head, the watchword was really: "Enjoy, have fun!"
That's what I did.
I like to attack with the foot even if it is not necessarily what should have been done, but I am a player.
That's what gives me pleasure and I think that's what helps me win.
You often bring up this image of “surfing the wave” of your Olympic title. How do you plan to make this wave last until the summer of 2024?
We must not stop working and continue to enjoy each workout.
The wave is everyday life.
If every day I go to training telling myself that I can't wait to be at the Games already, maybe I won't put the same motivation on a daily basis.
I prefer to think about the next competition, that of next weekend for example, telling myself that it is important for me.
In terms of mentality, it's very different.
I must not lose my principles of work and pleasure, otherwise I know that I will be less efficient.
Romain Cannone in action on the right of the Panoramic photo
Do you think you will also need to diversify your activities between now and Paris 2024 to clear your mind?
Yes, it will be a necessity.
For that, already, I have my job at EDF, which allows me to stay firmly anchored in everyday life.
And then, as I mentioned before, creating a fencing outfit also appeals to me a lot.
I tell myself that I may be even more efficient with a good outfit, in which I have even more confidence.
When you are a fencer, you are always going to look for materials from right to left to create in a certain way the armor and the sword that suits you best.
It's really important in the performance to look for the little detail.
Admittedly, it may only be 1% of my result, but 1%+1%+1%, on arrival, that transforms an elimination in the quarter-finals into a medal.
And to stay on your question, before the Games, I made
apnea because I knew that I had difficulty in apnea in the matches.
I lacked oxygen at times, which affected my lucidity.
It helped me a lot to win the Games.
I haven't stopped since then, incorporating it into my workouts and now looking for little things like this on a daily basis.
Your method resembles that of judoka Clarisse Agbegnenou, who has also diversified her activities in training to become more efficient...
Yes, I do yoga as well, which allows me to get to know my body better, which is still my main work tool (smile).
Every day it is different, the pains are not the same and you have to know how to stretch it to get it going again.
I find this essential.
Clarisse also spoke of her weariness of only doing judo for years and years.
Is it also true for me?
I do fencing from Monday to Saturday, I'm only focused on that and it can get boring in the long run.
Going to hang on to other sports feels good.
I really like climbing, for example, which allows me to work on my hands, my shoulders, which can then be used in my fencing.
It takes me out of “fencing, fencing, fencing” which can have a monotonous, boring side.
In fact, every day