Valentin Bertrand

Started: He took up Para athletics at age 15 in Bois-le-Roi, France. Prior to that he tried tennis, football and skiing. (sudouest.fr, 08 Mar 2019; france-paralympique.fr, 28 Jul 2016) Reason: A friend encouraged him to try athletics. In 2013 he was spotted by a national team coach and invited to join an elite training group. "I was looking for a sport that would be both individual and collective. Athletics is also a very humbling sport." (france-paralympique.fr, 28 Jul 2016; lesetoilesdusport.com, 12 Jun 2014) Ambition: To win a medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (lamontagne.fr, 09 Feb 2024) Additional Info: FOCUS ON LONG JUMP For several years he combined the long jump with the 400m. He decided to focus only on long jump in about 2019. "I was not able to reach the physical and mental level needed to perform at the highest level [in the 400m] anymore." (france24.com, 28 Aug 2023) MOVE TO AMSTERDAM Following the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, he decided to relocate to the Netherlands to train with Dutch coach Guido Bonsen. "I wanted to have a different approach to training. I told myself, 'Let's go see what my rivals are doing'. [The other members of the training group] are my friends, my family. They welcomed me into the team, they integrated me, gave me love and helped me every day. The truth is that they helped me to rebuild myself as a person and as an athlete. They helped me rediscover athletics and myself." (SCC France YouTube channel, 21 Mar 2024; lequipe.fr, 16 Jul 2023) MENTAL TRAINING He has worked with a sports psychologist to help him prepare for the experience of competing at a home Paralympic Games in Paris in 2024. "We will enter a stadium completely devoted to the French athletes. So, in order to not be overwhelmed, I need to learn to manage my emotions and feelings. Physically you can be at 1000%, but if in your mind there is a problem then you might not perform." (lamontagne.fr, 09 Feb 2024) FURTHER EDUCATION In 2019 he completed a master's degree in marketing at the KEDGE Business School in France. (LinkedIn profile, 01 Jun 2020)