ENGLISH TEXTS
Olympic and Paralympic disciplines . INSEP offers a wide range of professional training programs for careers in sports , as well as a “ pre-qualification ” course designed to help athletes struggling with academic difficulties or failure . This is a personalized support system , tailored to each individual ’ s needs after assessment . Regarding career transition , INSEP advises athletes to anticipate this crucial step at least a year in advance and provides solutions to help them prepare . However , some athletes may have to end their careers abruptly due to injury . In such cases , they can request a psychological assessment for career closure , as well as career management and transition counseling . A variety of tools are available to support retiring athletes , including skills assessments , coaching , confidence-building exercises , corporate internships , and job opportunities . INSEP also organizes the annual “ Carrefour SporTalents ” event , which connects businesses , schools , and athletes .
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THOMAS HUET : TRANSITIONING AND HELPING OTHERS TRANSITION TO PASS ON KNOWLEDGE
Former professional jockey , Thomas Huet took on his new role within ARQA- NA ’ s Bloodstock department in 2025 , following a career transition that saw him work as a jockey agent , co-founder of a horse racing application , racing manager alongside trainer Philippe Decouz , and consultant for the Deauville-based agency for a year . As a jockey , he raced with numerous professionals , including François Doumen , Mikel Delzangles , Robert Collet , Jonathan Pease , Ruppert Pritchard-Gordon , Fabrice Chappet and Mathieu Boutin in France , as well as Gai Waterhouse , Paul Perry and Peter Snowden in Australia . How does one bounce back when a jockey ’ s career is abruptly cut short for medical reasons ? How do you transition and find new sources of adrenaline in your second “ life ”? Mégane Martins sits down with Thomas Huet for an open discussion about life after racing - a conversation that also resonates with the thoroughbred he and his wife , Carole , and daughter , Satine , have retrained .
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A STABLE THAT SWINGS
Some trainers step away from their profession upon reaching retirement age , eager to enjoy a well-deserved rest — like Alain de Royer-Dupré , or more recently , Carlos Laffon-Parias and Pascal Bary . For others , career transition becomes necessary due to financial difficulties or burnout . Antoine Lamotte d ’ Argy , a sixty-year-old trainer who worked in Germany before settling in the Manche region near Mont-Saint- Michel , had an impressive career . But now , as he humorously puts it , he is in his “ fourth year of withdrawal .” “ The last years of my stable were tough , with a court-ordered liquidation . I had to salvage what I could and not let bitterness take over .” Family and friends banded together to buy back his training yard in Genêts , forming an Agricultural Land Group ( GFA ). The former trainer then envisioned an ambitious project — transforming the stables into a community space for dining and live music , which he named L ’ Écurie . Today , a stage sits at the heart of the venue , bathed in the warm glow of string lights , colorful decor , and umbrellas , evoking a festive ,
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