Written by Trackandmemes, September 21, 2022
What are the different challenges faced by a promising athlete in order to reach the highest level ? Simon and Hadrien, Belgian athletes, tell us about it.
Simon My name is Simon Mazebo. I am 22 years old. I'm a 400m and 400m hurdler (when my Achilles tendons allow it lol).
Hadrien My name is Hadrien. I am 21 years old and I am in Master 2 of industrial engineering, mechanical orientation. As far as my athletic career is concerned, I have been on the national and LBFA podiums several times in relays, but also individually in the 100 meters, 200 meters, but especially the 400 meters. What I'm most proud of in this career is my two third places at the Belgian U23 Championships on 400m in 2021 and 2022 and my participation in the Youth Memorial Van Damme.
Simon As far as my athletic background is concerned, I have been practicing athletics since I was 6 years old. If at the beginning it was just for fun, around the age of 15 or 16, I realized that if I gave myself the means and trained seriously, I could do interesting things. At that time, with my previous coach in Ath, I had decided to focus on the 400m and the 400m hurdles, and it paid off. Several titles, including nationals in youth categories, came to fill my prize list and I even had the honor of participating in the U20 World Championships in 2018 in the 4x400m. I've had a few bumps in the road over the past few years, but I plan to continue to be involved in the sport.
As far as my educational background is concerned, I obtained a bachelor degree in human and social sciences at the UCLouvain de Mons. Then, in the continuation of my bachelor's degree, I obtained a master's degree in human resources management at UCLouvain last year. This year, I'm doing a one-year master in management sciences at UCLouvain.
What is your sporting vision for the future?
Simon : The season that is coming here is really a year of change for me. Change of coach, change of club, and change of training group. I'm pretty excited about a new challenge. My last three seasons have been disappointing. Due to several factors (covid, physical problems, personal problems), I have not been able to maintain the rise I was leading. This coming season, I intend to put everything on my side to get back on track and start a new upward slope.
Hadrien My vision for the future is a participation in an international championship. I had participated in the qualification for Europe on 4x100m, but I had not been selected to go 🥲. I will not let go of this goal and I am convinced that I am capable of it (ego omg). More seriously, I'm aiming for the Universiades (the World University Games) and then more if affinity. In any case, I will do everything I can to get there. The dream would be that one day, athletics would be my full time job.
Do you plan to enter the working world through your degree in addition to your sports career?
Simon : Yes, I clearly plan to enter the working world through a degree. I have always been clear on this and so have my parents. In Belgium, making a living from athletics is still very complicated so I clearly prefer to secure my future with my studies. Anyway, athletics for me has never been a question of money. I do it for fun, not for money.
Hadrien I don't plan to work directly after my studies. I plan to pursue a specialized Master's degree or other training so that I can continue to work hard to achieve my dreams.
What difficulty did you face as a student trying to put everything together to reach the international sphere?
Simon Honestly, I didn't have to face that many difficulties to combine studies and high level sports. Of course, there were more difficult moments like the blockade period and the exams that often fall at the same time as the competition period in athletics. But I've always had an easy time with the studies I've done, so I didn't have to work too hard during the year (outside of assignments). I haven't experienced a scenario where after an exhausting workout I had to study for hours. Moreover, being at UCLouvain, I have the huge chance to be part of the PEPS program, created by UCLouvain, which aims at helping students with specific profiles to combine study and particularity. Among these profiles, we find self-entrepreneurs, artists, people with disabilities, disorders or illnesses, and high-level athletes. Being recognized as a high level athlete, I had the opportunity to ask for accommodations in my school curriculum! In my case, I was able, for example, to ask to change my PT group in order to be able to go to training, to be excused from certain classes because of training, etc. In addition, we benefit from a good follow-up from the people in charge of this program who make sure that we carry out our project and our studies well. It is really a good initiative of the UCLouvain we must recognize it.
Hadrien The main difficulty is the financing. Gasoline is hot, so I have to work on weekends and that creates fatigue which is then felt at training sessions. But it also helps me to take responsibility and I am lucky to have a family and close friends who help and support me. Clearly, without them, it would be impossible!
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