Tom Picard: “Be smart to outwit your opponent”

It was in Lodz, Poland, that the Montpellier university volleyball team, led by coaches Dominique Hallart and Bernard Iché, won a bronze medal at the European Championship. A third place due as much to the talent of the players as to the cohesion of this great team, already double French champions. " We really know each other. We have all already played with each other in different clubs and we get along very well. That's what makes it work," comments Tom Picard, the team captain.

A family affair

An atypical career for this young man from Marseille who, due to the Olympics, first devoted himself to football. Playing in the Istres training centre, he ended up leaving the pitch and arriving in Montpellier for his studies three years ago. " I had grown a bit tired of football but not of the competition, so when I was offered the chance to play volleyball I said yes. I knew there was a very good spirit in this discipline."

It must be said that for the Picards, volleyball is a family affair! A father who coaches in Tours and Istres, a big sister playing in the First Division and Elite, it's no surprise that Tom ended up in the net. Quickly integrated into the Arago de Sète training center, he made his place there as a point (attacker). A position where his strategic qualities make him a valuable asset for the team, " to be a good player, you have to be smart, almost vicious to thwart the opponent's strategies".

“Now or never!”

It is better to be passionate because to reach this level, Tom trains for five hours a day, to which he adds weight training and, above all, studies. Enrolled in a master's 1 in STAPS , the volleyball player plans to become a sports trainer. To obtain the diploma, he benefits from the status of high-level athlete allowing him to organize his classes and sometimes keep a little space for his other passions: " OM, series and video games! It's quite difficult to do everything but I'm 21, it's now or never!"

UM athletes at the top!

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