ENGLISH TEXTS
G. Recent events have shown that life after a career can be very difficult, even tragic …
B. L. Going from light to shadow is a delicate transition for which jockeys are unprepared. Ninety percent stop with a knot in their stomach. Talking about such anxieties isn’ t part of racing culture. We’ ve seen, sadly, that it can lead to tragic outcomes. That’ s how some fall into depression. Under the impetus of Dr. François Duforez, an expert linked to INSEP and the National Football Institute at Clairefontaine, we were encouraged to open a support unit for jockeys in Maisons-Laffitte.“ Success can’ t be taught”
G. What exactly does it involve?
B. L. The Institut médical et sportif( Imes): a multidisciplinary health and sports clinic. We already have a mental coach, a physical trainer, a nutritionist, and a physio-osteopath, with neurologists and cutting-edge equipment arriving by year’ s end. The idea is to instill good habits in tomorrow’ s jockeys. To provide specialists and tools, and to make it loud and clear that needing help is not a sign of weakness. We’ re considering a proper inauguration.
G. Is the jockey by definition a solitary figure?
B. L. Yes. With rugby international Maxime Machenaud, we tried to find common points between our two disciplines. He was very sur- prised to see how different our worlds are. We’ re alone in the face of success, alone in the face of defeat. And the good times aren’ t necessarily the easiest to handle. Against adversity, there’ s resilience. Success can’ t be taught. At the association, Thierry Gillet and our secretaries listen to all kinds of questions: administrative advice, the importance of social media … Attitude is key. We’ re one of the few sports under special regulations. A nightclub fight, and your personal life can quickly spill over into your professional life.
G. Danger is an integral part of jump racing. How do you deal with it?
B. L. We’ re a bit kamikaze by nature. We grow up with it. After a serious accident, consciously or not, your approach changes. At Auteuil, for example, after falling foolishly once at the river, unconsciously afterwards I would let go of the reins. A place where you’ ve been badly hurt, you bury it in your mind, but it leaves a mark. That’ s why we need to encourage speaking out. It’ s not always the most talented who have the best careers. Like horses, it’ s those who are most complete.
G. You’ ve just come off a long enforced break. How did you mentally prepare for your return?
B. L. I’ ve just had a threemonth break. On the eve of the Grand Steeple-Chase, I suffered a huge techni- cal KO. Maybe it’ s no coincidence I had a lumbago attack a week later. We internalize a lot; it’ s hard to take. I was inert for two minutes and went through a thirty-minute blackout. I blamed myself for“ letting down” Messrs. Papot and Nicolle. I felt more pressure advising Clément( Lefebvre), who replaced me at the last minute, than if I’ d been riding myself. I was so relieved after his victory.
G. Do you personally work with a mental coach?
B. L. With Mr. Cabrera( federal expert), who will also be working with us at the institute, he’ s brilliant! With him, I did a whole reflection on who I am, what I’ m looking for, my balance and desires, my way of being in tune with myself, the dose of sacrifice compared to my ambitions, how I approach victory and defeat, self-esteem. It’ s complicated to reconcile who you are and what you do. Losing doesn’ t make you a bad jockey. Before, I wanted to ride 400 times a year. Today, I’ m more in search of
balance.
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