Although conditioned to face failure, defeat or injury, professional sportsmen and women have had to face a unique and unprecedented situation. Find out how the 2 athletes we sponsor had to adapt their physical preparation during the confinement and how the recovery is shaping up.
Interview Camille Serme, Squash Champion - 3rd in the world
How did you experience this period of confinement as an elite athlete?
At first it was difficult. My husband, Quentin, and I are used to doing 2 to 3 workouts a day. We'd lost our bearings, our routines. And then as a woman I immediately thought about gaining weight too.
Were you able to maintain your training despite this situation?
We quickly found our rhythm. I continued my Yoga and Pilates classes by Skype, 2 sessions each week. Quentin joined me quickly so it was nice to do them together. Then I tried to maintain the cardio side with sessions found on the internet (as we were in transition from fitness trainer). Then Philippe, my trainer, gave us exercises to do on a small surface, I did them on my car park 🙂
Interview Quentin Urban, kayaker and marathon specialist
How did you experience this period of confinement as an elite athlete?
In retrospect, it was pretty good, but I soon realized that I had a life at 100 miles an hour and that you're not really cut out to be locked up all day. Especially me, who plays an outdoor sport!
Were you able to maintain your training despite this situation?
Let's just say I've been doing more of an interview during those two months. I was lucky enough to recover a paddling machine a few weeks after the start of the confinement which allowed me not to lose in "technique" even if the frame was quite different from what I usually know: in my cellar and staying there!
