Loïc Lalague “Don't show your weaknesses”

It was in Rouen last March that Loïc Lalague, 22, won his French university championship title. It was a hard-fought competition, but above all, it was a fun one for this great team from Montpellier, made up of five boxers and led by Atmane Ben Rabia. "Wehad a lot of laughs, the atmosphere was really cool," says the young boxer.

"Self-control"

Loïc discovered combat sports at the age of 16. He started with taekwondo, then boxing, before opting for French boxing and kickboxing two years ago. Kickboxing, which belongs to the "foot-fist" boxing group, is a discipline that originated in the United States and Japan in the 1960s. Fights take place according to different rules, ranging from knockout (K.O.) to "soft contact" as is the case in university competitions: "Weare not allowed to strike, only to attack. You have to control your emotions and be careful what you do."

This mastery is something that athletes particularly appreciate, as is the fact that it challenges them. There is always someone stronger than you, so you have to be determined, give your best, and above all, not show your weaknesses, even when you are tired. " This fatigue does not seem to affect this hydrogeology student, who is juggling his master's degree with two to four training sessions a week, as well as jogging and rock climbing... "Itdoesn't leave much time for anything else, but that's not the hardest part for me."

"Daily monitoring"

For athletes, the taste of victory often goes hand in hand with a strict diet. Loïc's nemesis! Competing in the under 77 kg category, he monitors his weight daily before competitions to ensure he does not exceed this limit and risk "facingopponents who are much bigger than me. " " It's a constraint he won't miss in his future professional life, which he doesn't envisage in the ring but rather in contact with "groundwater. It's concrete, it's visual, I like that!" In any case, boxing has taught this future hydrogeologist to be wary of... still waters!

UM athletes at the top of their game!

The University of Montpellier celebrates its medal-winning athletes at the World, European, and French University Championships during an annual ceremony organized by SUAPS. Read the profiles of these champions who juggle the demanding dual life of student and athlete. Read all the profiles...