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2003 – TO BECOME A FATHER
&
WORLD NUMBER ONE… |
 2003
was a nice year, wasn’t it?
It was an amazing year! As far as squash is concerned, I had never been so
consistent. If I remember well, I made 5 finals and 4 semis. And of
course, it was the year Jade, my little girl, was born, in September.
 Did
it change a lot for you, the birth of Jade?
Yes, it did. But before, I already made the step of getting engaged to
Céline, my girlfriend with whom I had been living for 8 years…
Yeah, don’t rush into anything, eh…?
(he laughs) Yes, I know… But the fact that Céline was constant in my life,
that she had been standing by, patiently, liberated me in a way. I was at
last ready, she had been for quite a while…
 Yes,
I would say she had…!
So here we were, just engaged, thinking about the arrangements for the
wedding, and in January 2003, we learnt she was pregnant. It gave me an
incredible energy. I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
More pressure when she was born?
No, not at all. No, I didn’t tell myself “I’ve got to me more
responsible,” on the contrary, it dissipated the pressure, it liberated
me. I suddenly realised there was more in life than squash, other sources
of satisfaction… One tries to build something side by side with squash, to
have a certain harmony in your actions, to be happy in your everyday life,
and to appreciate the precious moments at their just value. Jade gave me a
real strength, in training as well as in matches, a real mental strength.
 Do
you have an example?
It’s quite significant in competition actually (much more than during my
training, as I’m more or less constantly at my maximum), where I’m in
trouble. It gives me that “push”. So all those elements got together, as
if it was meant to be, add to that that I didn’t get any injuries, I had a
good planning of my tournament schedule, didn’t play the British, the
English or the Spanish, to concentrate on my own priorities.
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3 words to
describe him:
Céline
Lincou |
2003
Dec :
Runner-up, World Open
(Pak)
Semi-finalist, Canadian Classic
Nov :
Semi-finalist, Canadian Open
Oct :
World Team Championships (Aus)
Sep :
Runner-up, Motor City Open (USA)
Semi-finalist, US Open
May :
Runner-up, PSA Masters (Qatar)
Feb :
Runner-up, T/Champions (USA)
Champion of France
Jan :
Runner-up, Dayton Open (USA)
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A
FEW FRIENDS… |
JEAN-LOUIS GUIDONI
Ile Rousse Squash
(Corsica, France)
 Your
first meeting?
In 2000, Thierry came to us for an exhibition. We had a glass court in
the middle of the town Ile Rousse.
What did you think of Thierry at the time, and did you change you
mind since?
He had the attitude and the behaviour that I would have expected from a
top athlete, a perfect role model from all angles, and I never changed
my mind…
His main fault?
In my opinion, he is too nice and not enough money orientated, but I
hope he’ll change…
What is his main quality (ies)?
He has all the qualities that you would expect to find in a human being;
kind, generous, compassionate, patient, caring… He is passionate about
what he does, he posesses the good side of being an “islander”: sense of
family, friendship, fidelity, broadminded, availability, good education,
and a great sense of fun… And the girls at the club find him handsome…
Did he have any influence on French Squash?
No, not much I’m afraid, but his behaviour is setting the way, and his
method of working has encouraged a few youngsters. Also, the media are
praising him and today, the FFSquash is supporting him.
Three words to describe him?
Fidelity, role model, generous.
Jean-Louis
Guidoni |
FRED DUPUIS… A FAN
I’m mad about squash, and I’ve been
following Thierry’s career with enthusiasm for years…
It all started when years ago, I read an article in a magazine about his
method of training (remote coaching when he was young and still in La
Réunion).
Since that day, I have become a fan of his and an admirer. I wrote to him
to express my admiration regarding his combativeness, his efforts and his
tenacity. As I didn’t have his address, I wrote to the La Reunion League,
as I knew that Daniel, his dad, was then President.
Following that letter, I had the chance to meet Thierry and his parents,
and we’ve always stayed in touch. We exchange emails and letters with his
parents, who I want to stress are EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE.
Nowadays, I follow Thierry’s career as much as I can, through media
coverage or by going to tournaments when possible.
Thierry gives me joy, emotions, and the strength to promote squash, as I’m
President of a “members club” in the Pas-de-Calais (North of France), and
it’s not all that easy… But I’m driven by passion to develop our sport and
my club.
Here is my little contribution, thanks for your site, long live the sport,
and long live French Squash.
Frédéric Dupuis |
THE SORIA FAMILY
Rémi, Sylviane et Philippe
Dear Dear Dear Thierry,
Beyond all the compliments that you have received for a little while,
beyond the words used to describe your arrival at the top of the world of
squash, beyond the friendship that reigns between you and us (my little
family, the friends of the Set Marseille, and others), I just wanted to
let you know that you are, as far as I’m concerned, a perfect role model
for my son Rémi, but not only for him, for all the youngsters in this
world, whether squash players or not.
And I would like everybody to know that you are not only an athlete, but
that you are a man, and with all the qualities that come with it…
Because only a man, and a real/strong one can cope with my mate Paulo
Sciberras as you have done, and are still doing….
So, just two more titles to go, a little brother for Jade, and you can
retire in peace…
Philippe Soria
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October 2003
Thierry Lincou,
the Pioneer… |
AFP:
Lincou wants a
'French Revolution'
Washington Post:
Squash not just a vegetable
Lincou aims for number one |
Once upon a time there was a handsome soldier
gone to do his military service at the end of the world, in the Island of
La Réunion, as he wanted to travel… Caught in the web of a beautiful
Chinese young lady in exile with her parents, he exchanged his weapon for
the words that format young souls to affront the turpitudes of the future.
Mister Daniel Lincou is a social worker way way out there, in the middle
of the Indian Ocean. Since forever, he takes cares of young drifters…
 His kids mind you never drifted. To entertain them, he built them the
first squash court on the island, in Terre Rouge, a few miles from
Saint-Pierre. Devoted, the Daddy learned about squash in a book. An
academic knowledge as an inheritance. His sons fructified it by the
fruit of the labour. Thierry, the most gifted, the most stubborn, is now
on the top of Olympus. Finishing third in the Junior World Championships
’94, six times Junior French Champion, then six times French Champion,
world number 4 at 26. Never has a “blue” done as well…
It was not an easy ride, and Thierry stayed for a long time in the wings…
Going is to die a little, they say. Well, the Réunion man left everything
to be reborn in the cold weather of the INSEP (French National Centre in
Paris), as although the French teenager was winning everything he was not
improving anymore, the faxes received day after day all the way from
France not sufficient enough anymore…
So, his Baccalauréat in his bag, he flew to Paris, well to the “Champion
Factory” of l’INSEP, in the Bois de Vincennes, near Paris.
Flash Back:
"Boarding school… That was hard. Sharing your room with a bloke you do
not know… It was hard to get any intimacy. Thank God, I’m quite an easy
guy to get along with. My youth was a perfect one. I was taught
sociability from a very early age. I was given good habits like playing
sports with mates from all ages and races…"
 But still, the little racquet genius is a bit on the introverted side, and
cogitation is his favourite occupation. Renan Lavigne, an old mate,
confirms : “He is not very outgoing. He doesn’t show much of himself. He
keeps on doing what he has decided to. Not the type to confide in
people….”
As with three quarters of the top players, Thierry works with private
coaches and precursors.
“With them, I work a lot on my moves. The
sessions are based on bio-mechanic, energy-saving and effect calculation.
I also work a lot on mental representation and visualisation.”
Squash has become more and more demanding. “There is no space for
improvisation. My strength is not to be a stereotype. I can adapt to all
my opponents. You can’t enter a court without knowing what to do. Even if
you are in a difficult position, you’ve got to be able to create a problem
for the other player. Now, it’s up to me to be more consistent in the
crucial moments, and to manage my “favourite” position better.”
Posterity is there, waiting. “I’m happy to be the first to get to the top
in France. The guy that clears the way, it’s better than anything else…”
Alexandre Terrini |
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We were
both in the Benjamin group, and we had both lost against the same
opponent, Mathieu Benoît, today an osteopath and still a very good
squash player, around 15th in France. 
