Marie-José Pérec

Marie-José Pérec (born 9 May 1968) is a retired French track and field sprinter who specialised in the 200 and 400 metres and is a three-time Olympic gold medalist. Quotes My ambitions were clear, I never deviated from my path." This mindset was maintained even though, in her time, the issue of mental health among athletes "was almost taboo. It's undeniable, mental preparation is just as important as physical training. An athlete first and foremost needs to feel enjoyment and support. My coach kept chattering away, his face practically glued to mine, and I watched this boy warming up, Walkman at his waist and music in his ears, his coach dancing to the same beat beside him, I was so conditioned that I was sure he would lose. That year in Barcelona, ​​the American, a certain Quincy Watts, broke the world record in the men’s 400m. “It was a revelation. I, who had always won through struggle, promised myself I would win my next battles like him, with joy and enthusiasm. I didn't know how to express myself very well in public and I withdrew into myself. I always told myself: don't say anything, just run, your victories will speak for you. I wanted to show that West Indians weren’t lazy, circus freaks to be made to dance. I wanted to be a spokesperson without having to speak. And for that, it had to be beautiful and triumphant. My journey had to inspire people to look at history differently. no one inflicts so much pain on themselves for nothing. It’s simply a matter of defining it, pinpointing it, to better utilize it. I practically had to beg them to let me compete, I was so paralyzed with fear. In the days leading up to a race, I didn’t sleep; I had to fight against myself to avoid giving up. I was like a tiny ant, crushed under the weight of all that fervor. You know you're physically prepared, but when your legs are trembling, you have to talk to your brain. I used to go there to fish for crayfish; those are happy memories. My heart calmed down instantly. I didn't know it yet, but I was practicing visualization. "When your legs tremble, it's your brain you need to talk to": a dive into the mind of Marie-José Pérec , July 25 2024 External links Category:Track and field athletes Category:Sportspeople from France Category:Women in sports Category:Women from France Category:Olympic gold medalists Category:1968 births Category:Women born in the 1960s Category:Living people