Arrived at athletics late and by chance, Loïc Letellier chases the clock and tutoie the French summits for almost 25 years. At 42 spring, his enthusiasm is intact.
"Football shorts and spikes too big"
"It was not me who chose this sport, it is this sport that chose me. I played football with a friend, whose brother was French champion in high jump. Every morning, we took the bus together to go to high school. For a year, he asked me every day when I was going to sign in his track and field club. At one point, it tired me, I did a test and I signed my license in the wake, at 18 years. The following weekend, I did my first competition, which I won (junior departmental champion) without really knowing what had happened. I had a pair of football shorts and I was lent a pair of spikes that was too big. I was the extraterrestrial, the UFO. Everything started from there. At the time, I never could have believed in this sequel. It was impossible to imagine this kind of trajectory. Me, I burst into football. I did not see any interest in going to another sport. But once you put your finger in the gear, the results helping, we are propelled in front of and go. I saw that I was constantly progressing, that's what kept me motivated and invested. "
"The backdrop: what are my limits? "
"After which I run? In the deepest of oneself, one has the taste of the effort or one does not have it. It's all stupid, but you have to be able to hurt yourself. We must say things as they are: we are mistreated. It sometimes fucks a little bugs. There were more sacrifices than pleasure. But once it is done, we are happy, we went to the end of ourselves. The days when it's less well, it can be quick galley. The moments when you fly, where you are on your little cloud are very rare. At the time, there was also this backdrop: how far can I go? What are my limits? We do not know. We all underestimate ourselves. As long as I progressed, I said to myself, "we're going". When I started, I was at the 27th Alpine Chasseurs Battalion in Bourg-Saint-Maurice. We had a colonel who was keen on running. Subsequently, I was professional without being. I was subsidized by the Army. Every weekend I did not have to run to make sure I had enough to eat. I was able to invest myself as a pro. Today, I remain competitor in the soul. I'm still surfing on what I did before, training less. "
"I never ran after the money"
"Do not practice athletics to try to get rich. I did not run and I still do not run after the money. Money, I won a little but, in connection with the investment, it has nothing to do with a sport like football.I regret not having made sure to be more recognized, if only to get help. It would have been necessary for someone to take care of my business, my interests, to be able to "sell me". I am rather shy and reserved, I did not want to address this aspect because it scared me. Aurore (Guerin), whom I am in charge of, has the same temperament. I proposed to her to create a collective capable of supporting her in her approach, but she is not ready. I lacked professionalism in the field of communication and I regret it because it's part of the job. "
"I'm vaccinated with recognition"
"In my best years, I had some solicitations from clubs outside the region. At the time, Joel Bruneau (his coach, current mayor of Caen) had told me that it would be a nonsense to leave, that being established and known at the local level would serve me in the future. In hindsight, it was wrong. The day I stopped the Army and asked for people to help get my foot in the stirrup, there was no one. I am vaccinated with recognition.
Today, I tell people that I train they should not be embarrassed if they have an outward proposal and want to leave. We are made to believe things, but the promises are not kept. I had it across my throat for a while. Today, I made my way, I'm good where I am so it happened, but on the spot, there was disappointment. The only recognition I feel is that of my peers. I am someone altruistic, I like to share my experience. When I interact with young people, they look at me with big eyes. "
"I was crying in the arms of Joel Bruneau"
"I remember my 5000 m in Sotteville-lès-Rouen, in 2003. That day, it was tough. I was in a fight with a Kenyan. He put me constantly cleats, I could not pass but it boosted me. Despite the difficulty, I made my record (13''23). It shows a fair return on the investment that has been made for some time. It is also a reward for the people who have invested myself beside me, for the coaches. At the time, it was Joël Bruneau (the current mayor of Caen) who followed me. He already had a very busy schedule. We were meeting at Helitas stadium. I was warming up, he was coming in for the beginning of the session, he was looking at what he had to see and he was leaving. My first title of champion of France, on 5000 m in Saint-Etienne, I cried in his arms so much it was enormous. It is this memory that has the most flavor, with this unexpected side of the guy who creates surprise and surprises himself. "
Paris 2003: "It would have been the race of a lifetime"
"I have some regrets. I probably should have invested more during the courses to confront me to guys stronger. I have often been the ass between two chairs, among the best French, but not strong enough to integrate meetings abroad. One day, a manager told me, "You count for zero, I do not make money with an athlete like you. My main regret is the 2003 world championships in Paris. I had made the B minims over 5,000m and I was likely to be selected if no one did the A minima. This was the case, but Ismail Sghyr wanted to double 5,000m and 10,000m. Facing him, I was not the weight. The day of the 10,000 m, he was on the street and decided not to participate in the 5,000 m ... For me, it would have been the race of a lifetime. "
Loïc Letellier in brief
Born October 1, 1976 in Caen. Licensed to Mondeville from 1994 to 2018. At AS Tourlaville since this fall.
Winners: European vice-champion in cross-country teams (2002 and 2008), 12th in the European cross country championship (2002), French Elite champion in the 5,000m (2002, 2005), 10,000m (2003) and the half-marathon (2010). Eight selections in France team.
His records. 2 h 14'37 '' at the marathon (2007); 1 h 04 'to semi (2007); 1 hr 01'17 '' over 20 km road (2011); 28'41 '' on 10 km road (2008); 28'33''45 to 10 000 m (2003); 13'23''68 to 5,000 m (2003); 7'49''98 at 3,000 m (2002).