ENGLISH TEXTS
age them to talk, but above all, listen. You need to know when they“ need to ease off” so they can recharge and come back stronger. Form is cyclical; it’ s our job to support them so that things go as well as possible, both on the track and in their heads.
G. Do the jockeys you represent have mental coaches?
S. O. Not yet, but we will get there. I met Teddy Riner’ s coach about this. We talked a lot, and she was struck by how difficult the job is, having to do a“ reset” every thirty minutes between races. She was also surprised that jockeys aren’ t given mental support from a very young age. It can be taught; there are techniques, and not having access to them makes their job harder. We have a very solid pool of jockeys, but I think we could excel if there were more support. Like professional athletes, jockeys need to have a team around them. They need to be aware of that. The institution, through AFASEC, is making progress on this issue. The arrival of figures such as Thierry Jarnet or Thierry Thulliez is exceptional. I hope the young riders realize that. Speaking of youth, I find pony racing to be a very good lever for our industry. But the flip side is the mental aspect. When you’ re just a child and you never place because your parents can’ t afford to buy you the right pony, or when you suddenly have to stop because your growth means you can no longer ride, it’ s very tough! This point must not be overlooked, and I know that the teams and organizers around pony racing are aware of it and working on it. Once again, it all starts at a very young age. And this also applies to preparing for retirement. You need to be supported, because from one day to the next, you no longer have a goal. It’ s all a matter of anticipation.
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AGENTS, UNWILLING MENTAL COACHES
� PAGE 79
By Céline Gualde
Pierre-Alain Chéreau, together with his associate Giovanni Laplace, manages the careers of nine flat jockeys( including Cristian Demuro and Maxime Guyon) and six NHjockeys( notably James Reveley and Angelo Zuliani). Their“ protégés” have very different profiles and personalities but one thing in common: none of them sees a psychologist or a mental coach! A situation Pierre-Alain Chéreau would like to see change:“ I encouraged them to take this step but so far without success. It still hasn’ t become accepted in our envi- ronment; it’ s not part of our culture, and that’ s a shame because jockeys would need mental support just like any elite athlete.” Agents are generally very close to the riders whose interests they manage. They are therefore on the front line when one of their jockeys faces difficulties: a period without wins, a suspension, an injury...“ I need to be friends with the jockeys I represent, and I’ m interested in psychology, but despite my desire to support them I don’ t have the skills of a mental coach. Agents absorb a lot of the jockeys’ frustration; they act as a sponge for all their emotions. It’ s not always easy to handle, and we don’ t necessarily have the right words in response. Of course, all the jockeys competing at the highest level cope with pressure, but it would be beneficial for them to meet with someone external who listens to them, helps them manage their emotions, and stay clear-headed and focused on their goals. It might even make them more successful.”
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