Her final preparations for the Games aren't stopping her from successfully conducting her Envole-toi (“fly away”) educational programme in conjunction with the Jean-Luc Lagardère Foundation. The first training session took place at the St-Maur Omnisports Club between 22nd and 24th April 2008.
Envole-toi: First training session at the St Maur Omnisports Club
As part of the partnership initiated on January 28th 2008 between Laura Flessel and the Jean-Luc Lagardère Foundation, Envole-toi is offering to help four rising fencing stars with only modest financial resources, by giving them their first introduction to top-level sport while also providing them with academic tutoring.
The academic assistance is provided by students of the AFEV (Association of the City Student Foundation), an approved association which complements the State school system.
The initiation into top-level training began with a 3-day training course on the St-Maur Omnisports Club site.
It was there that the young prize-winning fencers, Marie-France, Laurence, Constance and Lauren, followed a physical training plan designed by several professionals in the field -
Michel Sicard (national technical director), Patrice Carrière (national trainer), Hervé Faget (fencing master), and Makis Chamaldis (sports psychologist and mental coach).
Laura Flessel elaborates: "We put everything in place to provide these young people with the keys to top-level success as regards the technical, tactical and mental aspects of competitive sports."
The activities on offer were diverse - besides the mainly physical training, our 4 fencers also tried tennis, badminton, swimming, boxing and tae kwon do. It was on this occasion that Pascal Gentil (European Champion and Olympic double bronze medal winner in Tae Kwon Do) and Myriam Chomaz (European and World Champion in Savate kick boxing) offered them an initiation to their respective sports.
"What we look for with initiation into other sports is to help them discover that they can continuously adapt to any situation they are faced with", says Laura Flessel.
An overall positive result for this first training session, which has reinforced the choice of the team regarding the future champions. This early foray into top-level sports thus allowed our four hopefuls to condition themselves, sharpen their curiosity, and push their boundaries while still enjoying themselves.
To see the video of Envole-toi first training session, please click on the picture (video in french):
