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make mistakes.” That’ s when I realized I would now be riding with my conscious mind rather than my unconscious. And in elite sport, you always need to act with your unconscious, act instinctively. As soon as you start thinking, it’ s too late. It was an extremely enriching experience. He shared his knowledge with me, and I understood why I was struggling with doubt and frustration. Once you understand these things, you can either anticipate them or deal with them.
G. At 46, you are a true global star in horse racing. What advice would you give to young jockeys who struggle with doubt and don’ t dare to speak up?
C. L. I believe the most important thing is your support system. I was lucky to be able to talk with my parents and my wife when things weren’ t going well. They always knew the right words to reassure and motivate me. But when you’ re young, it’ s hard to open up. Like everyone, I’ ve had ups and downs, but you need to stay humble and remember that success can be fleeting, so it’ s essential to secure your future. When you’ re ambitious and aiming for the top level, it’ s important to prepare both physically and mentally, and not hesitate to seek help from specialized structures or mental coaches if necessary. With a healthy body and a healthy mind, you can achieve great things.
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3. MENTAL HEALTH IN OTHER SPORTS
AT INSEP, PSY- CHOLOGI- CAL SUPPORT GOES WIT- HOUT SAYING
� PAGE 61
By Céline Gualde
Even though jockeys are subject to anti-doping controls, they do not benefit from the status of elite athletes, which would grant them access to the Institut National du Sport, de l’ Expertise et de la Performance( INSEP). Since 1975, this has been the home base of French athletes. Tony Parker, Amélie Mauresmo, Marie-Jo Pérec and Teddy Riner are among the many Olympic champions in its“ hall of fame.” More than eight hundred athletes train at this institution based in Vincennes, across about twenty different sports. Around three hundred of them live on site, and about one hundred are under eighteen.
Barbara Brès is a psychologist within INSEP’ s health department:“ We are two practitioners in the sports psychology unit, and a third is currently being recruited. Two other psychologists as well as mental preparation specialists work within the performance support unit, whose role is to optimize athletes’ competitive results.” Since 2004, sports federations have been required to organize Regulatory Medical Monitoring for their elite athletes.“ As part of this, they undergo an annual health check, which includes appointments with a dietician and a psychologist. During that appointment, we address every aspect of their life: sport of course, but also family, studies, lifestyle, and mental health... We are especially attentive to boarders, who are sometimes very young— thirteen or fourteen years old— away from their family for the first time and facing long, demanding days... When we detect a problem, we offer the athlete psychological follow-up throughout the year. Of course, we cannot impose it on them, as they must commit to the process for it to be useful.” Among the difficulties athletes may face, eating disorders are more common in weight-class sports( boxing, judo, wrestling...) or aesthetic disciplines such as gymnastics or rhythmic dance.“ For these athletes, weigh-ins can be stressful. We encounter a narrative about the‘ ideal’ body, which is not necessarily a healthy body if it is subject to too many restrictions.” A reality that resonates with the condition of jockeys... Even at INSEP, mental health can be a taboo subject, as it clashes with the myth of the all-powerful athlete, master of their body and emotions.“ We try
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