“I want to give 100% in athletics”. Freshly graduated with a master’s degree in commerce from the American University of Butler, 5,000 meter specialist Simon Bédard recently signed a professional contract with Hoka until the end of 2024 to live from his passion. Barely returned from the United States, the Malestroyen has already left for an internship in the Pyrenees, in Font Romeu, to prepare for the university world championships, which will take place in China from July 25 to August 7.
It was precisely to combine his passion and his studies that the runner had crossed the Atlantic in 2017. “In France, it is not easy to do both. After high school, I did an IUT. I had 35 hours of lessons per week. I came home in the evening I was tired and I had little time to train. »
Encouraged and helped by his friend from Stade Brestois, Arsène Guillorel, Brittany’s hopeful record holder in the 3,000m and already present on the spot, the young man had joined California Baptist University (CBU). He only stayed there two years, before joining Butler University in Indianapolis for his master’s degree, but also and above all for sporting reasons. “CBU moved up to the college first division in my sophomore year. According to American rules, when a university joins the D1, it cannot participate in the regional and national championships for four years. I was stuck so I preferred to join a school already in D1”.
“Everything is set up for performance”
Alongside his Business Administration studies, Simon Bédard trained fifteen hours a week. “There, you could arrange your schedule according to the coach’s program. Then in masters, I had more than nine hours of classes per week and only in the evening between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Everything is set up for performance,” enthuses the athlete. “In the United States, teachers are accommodating regarding exams, which is not the case in France. I received two zeros when I was in IUT because I had been absent to train with the young French team, ”he sighs.
The Morbihannais ended this American epic by ranking fourteenth in the NCAA D1 championship at the beginning of the month. “I could have done a little better but I’m happy with the result. The level is crazy, we can end up with Olympic champions. Back in France, Simon Bédard sets long-term goals like the world and European championships, even if the 2024 Olympic Games are in the back of his mind.
2023-07-06 05:30:02
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