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PROFESSIONAL SURROUNDING |
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Thierry
speaks about his two coaches
Paul Sciberras and
Franck Carlino are two persons who are extremely important in my
life, whether on a professional level or on the emotional one. Their
curriculums
are quite different,
but between them, they cover a great area of
competency. |
THE MEETING
 I
remember that it’s thanks to my first ever racquet sponsor “Best Game”,
Claude Duhart, that I met Franck, who was, at the
time, one of the best French Nationals. He agreed to coach me for two
weeks, he was 27 years old, and was French number 2 or 3.
I used to live in La Réunion, I was 14, and I was using the half term to
come to France to play tournaments and coaching camps.
That’s how I met Paul, as he was Franck’s physical coach then. He tested
me with a VO2 max, saw that I had a good potential of speed and endurance.
And that’s how, at 14, I got involved in the systemic approach procedure
that Paul was setting up.
 This
way of training integrates all the composites of an athlete’s formation
(technical, physical, psychological, cognitive, strategic), and also of a
man’s, as that method leaves time to pursue his planned studies, and to
think about his future after his squash years.
When I was still in La Réunion, until the age of 17 and a half, and when I
used to come to France during the school holidays, my work with Franck was
essentially based on the racquet work, technical skills, mastering of
different shots, fluidity of movement, tactics.
At the same time, Paul was looking after the construction of my physical
bases: endurance, speed, coordination, movement work (movement technique
mastering, explosiveness, fluidity, saving energy).
And sometimes, both of them used to come to my home in St-Pierre.
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OUR COMMON GOAL:
High Level Sports and Studies
with a balanced family life.
PORTRAITS…
To describe them, I would say they are both passionate, generous,
demanding, severe and discreet.
They are both very involved in my success but neither of them is trying to
get any personal glory out of it.
Their independence from all official structures allow them to have a very
truthful and frank relationship (they do not hesitate to hit where it’s
painful to allow me to improve and go forward, and nobody is hiding behind
the truth…)
 I
would also like to salute and thank Celine, my partner and mother of our
daughter Jade, who has always supported me in the realisation of this
project, and the same to my parents and my brother, who have guided me,
helped me and supported me from my first step to the raise of my career.
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Grégory
Gaultier |
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PAUL SCIBERRAS
Paul has a scientific background, his work is always turned towards
research. He re-evaluates himself constantly. He always making things
move forward, there is never any weariness, as he is always polishing up
what he has established, and the training processes are diversified.
His keys words:
Imitation= limitation
Today’s truth is not tomorrow’s.
His action is based on planning and programming training; setting up
physical sessions (on and off court), body-building, technical and
psychological sessions, cognitive approach, between two shots, mental
management, hitting.
Regularly, he writes the results of his research.
He always helped me in my studies.
He is a source of knowledge in many subjects.
He loves staying in his mill and welcoming his friends.
He always tells me the same anecdotes all over again, but they still
make me laugh. But don’t think for a minute that he is drivelling!
He perpetually looks “spic and span”, and keeps eternally young.
Once a week, he visits his favourite bookshop in search for the latest
scientific book.
He lives with the sun and the sea.
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 FRANCK CARLINO
Franck was very involved at the start of my career by visiting me often
in La Réunion, where other young players benefited from his action.
We used to insist on shot technique and skill; shot making, precision
and consistency.
He gave me solid technical bases.
He always talked to me about the top level, made me share his own
experiences and always persuaded me that I would get to the top.
Those last few years, his interventions have consisted in working on
routines, on a regular comeback to a back of the court game.
He has a strong sense of feeling. His observation skills and analytical
mind allow him to talk about the game of different players on the
circuit, and allow him to establish the line of actions of strategic
plans of different matches.
He always gave me good advice, in different domains (tournament,
partnership contracts, exhibitions, management of my emotional and
family balance).
He has been able to protect me from bad influences and traps of
this job.
He has been able to show me the Big Picture when I was down, and
reassure me, and keep my spirits up.
He loves Chinese restaurants.
He is as tall as he is discreet.
He spends his life moving from place to place (he's done 14 moves since
being an adult).
He often passes his fingers through his hair, making a funny face… |
THE RESULT...
So, we have been rubbing shoulders
with each other, we worked together, we revaluated ourselves, we had bad
moments, we faced criticisms, but we always pushed our project forward;
always worked in the qualitative and also pursued university studies.
Today I have a number of diplomas, BE1, BE2, BTS Commerce (INSEP), Bac +
3, Bac +4 in PE, and I’m in the process of getting my DESS Sport
Management.
Paul and Franck think the world of my parents, as they always supported
me without being overbearing. They helped me financially, (travels to
France, invitation of players to la Réunion, sending me to international
tournaments, training camps…), and according to my entourage, they also
gave me a good education.
Franck and Paul are more than coaches. They are part of my family. There
is a lot of friendship, of camaraderie, and of course,
of respect.
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THE COACHES TALK ABOUT THIERRY |
 PAUL
SCIBERRAS
When did you meet Thierry ?
I met Thierry Lincou in 1990, during a junior tournament, he was 13.
It may have been in Toulouse or Marseille, to tell you the truth I can’t
really remember.
I asked him, and he believes it was in Marseille. But it’s not
essential, is it? What is essential, what is important, is that we’ve
been travelling side by side for 14 years now.
Paul talks
about Thierry
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 FRANCK
CARLINO
When did you meet Thierry
In January 1990, he was 14, and was looking for a place to train.
At
that time, I was playing and coaching in Marseille. The contact came from
my racquet sponsor, who used to help Thierry.
I immediately noticed his polite manners and his kindness, then his
capacity to understand quickly the advice I could give.
Franck talks
about Thierry
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IN
THE BEGINNING… |
FIRST SPONSOR,
CLAUDE DUHART
 If
my memory is correct, I met Thierry during my first ever travel to la
Reunion in 1987.
Daniel Lincou was one of my clients with the Saint-Pierre Squash Club, as
in those days, I was selling Black Knight racquets (a Canadian brand).
It’s with those racquets that I got Thierry’s first sponsorship
contract when he was 10.
It’s because I was also a level 2
coach that I went to
La Réunion to train the youngsters
of that squash club, but also have a look around the juniors of the other
clubs on
the island.
 As
I was invited to stay with the Lincou family, I quickly
grew
to know Thierry and Pascal. The two brothers were exemplary, studious,
keen to learn, organised and polite. Titi’s physical potential, his will
and his intelligence of play really stood
out.
Pascal was a perfect partner, and really helped him a lot to improve.
 From ’87 to ’92, I went to the island
every year in
the company of other players
from France to train and coach the juniors. Thierry was improving rapidly,
and was collecting more and more titles.
In
1989, I founded my own squash racquet brand, “Best Game”. My main
ambassadors were Thierry, but also Franck Carlino, and a bit later on,
Gregory Gaultier.
In 1990, Daniel Lincou asked me if I knew somebody serious that could
become Thierry’s coach, and that’s when I put him in contact with Franck
Carlino.
They seemed to hit it on fine, and in August 1991, Franck went to
St Pierre’s Club for a squash camp where he met Thierry and other juniors.
 When
Thierry reached the top ten, I helped him to get a more lucrative contract
with Snauwaert, as my little company didn’t have the means to remunerate
Thierry’s performances at their
true
value.
Later, he negotiated a contract with Tecnifibre on his own. Up to this
date, I still try and find him some complimentary partners.
I
would have so many things to say on the Lincou family (Daniel, Céline,
Pascal), but it would be too long. In short, they taught me about a
beautiful island where they invited me and welcomed me in their home so
many times.
They are, with Thierry’s partner Céline and daughter Jade,
the perfect balance needed for
a athlete like Thierry. Without forgetting Franck Carlino and Paul
Sciberras, two coaches with different roles but very complementary.
 His main fault : he is too nice.
His main qualities :
Intelligent, serious,
severe,
nice, hard worker.
Little message :
“Titi, I saw you climb the stairs
one by one, I saw you taking a pause, but your
consistency
proves your assiduousness
to work. Today, you are World number
one and World Champion. Only
the British Open lacks in your collection. Thanks again, for those moments
of great joy you offered to those who believed in you.
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FRED LECOMTE,
FRENCH NATIONAL COACH (JUNIORS)
FIRST MEETING
 First
time I saw Thierry, he must have been 12 years old, he came with another
player, Michael Grondin and a coach, Ludovic Bassora, to take part in the
French Championship in St-Cloud.
He had surprised the coaches present by
his calm and his racquet skill. It was also the first time La Rénion
League had sent representatives to France metropolis.
A few months later, Thierry and Michael came back for a camp and they
stayed at our home.
 Michele,
my wife, worked hard to prepare different meals typical of our South of
France region, but after a few days, she seemed to run out of ideas, and
asked Thierry what would please him…
“Some rice please” he replied… The
basic “la Réunion’s” dish they were expecting for days, but were too
polite to ask for …
His main fault :
Sometimes too nice with others. HE is the Champion, and he got there
mainly thanks to his own hard work.
His main qualities:
His professionalism and his kindness.
Thierry in 3 words :
Serenity, Patience, Simplicity.
Little message:
Like his whole family, he is simple and endearing, and may he stay that
way forever. And if he could keep on pulling French Squash up for a few
more years, that would be a plus.
Thanks Thierry
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Let's talk about your
friendship with Scott Handley…
 Framboise, we are talking way back when… I met Scott during the first
tournament I won in ’96 in Innsbruck, Austria.
Our paths happened to
cross in the club, and we hit it off straight away. It just happens that
I was looking for English players to practice with.
 At the time, I was
ranked around 70/80, and I need to get away. I could feel the need for
 confrontation, for battle in a way of speaking. And Scott just welcomed
me with open arms, he immediately said “no problem, why don’t you come
to my club, in Wallington, you can stay with me, I live just by the
club, and Steve Meads plays there, Mark Cairns, etc…”
And that was specifically what you needed…
Yes, at the time, Steve and Mark were in the top 16, top 20. So, less
than a month later, I was in Wallingford, to play with the guys there,
and for the following 10 years, I went there quite regularly, one week
here, one week there…
I also played for several English leagues to get
some matches, Super League, National League, Surrey League…
So, in a way, Scott has been a sort of catalyst, hasn’t he?
Yes, absolutely, and I’m so grateful for his welcome, that’s how I
improved my level of game, thanks to that environment.
And also, Scott
is somebody with whom I got on with straight away, he was very open
minded, always with a face on his face, who is not going to put you
down. Scott loves a good laugh, he is a pretty easy going guy…
A bit like you, then…
Yes, you could say that I guess. He likes simple things, like I do, he
doesn’t like to make things complicated…. And we like the same things,
we like cars, we like watching films, DVDs, simple things… On top of
that, he just became a father, I have a little girl… We have a lot in
common…
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I
first met Thierry in 1996 whilst playing in a small PSA tournament in
Austria; he beat me in the semi final. After the tournament I invited
him over to England. A couple of weeks later Thierry came over for a
week to my home club Wallingford Squash Club in Oxfordshire where we
trained with my regular training partners Mark Cairns and Steve Meads.
Thierry was always focussed and dedicated about training and
tournament preparation, but there was always time for a laugh as he
has a great sense of humour.
We both played for Cambridge in the National League and Marseilles in
the French League, and often after tournaments it was back to
Wallingford for training and very occasionally a thrash on the golf
course. Now T.T can hit a squash ball, but what a laugh at Golf, he's
worse than that other squash legend Chris Clare.
Thierry has been a great friend for the past 10 years. I was delighted
for him when he made it to World number one, he thoroughly deserves it
he's a Top Guy
Scott Handley |
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