Written by Trackandmemes, February 23, 2024
We had met Lucie Jean-Charles for the first time in the magazine in May 2023. She talked about her athletic beginnings, her personal bests (7'' 47 over 60m at the time), her passions and what she would have liked to see change in athletics.
After setting a new personal best at this winter's French Elite Championships in 7’’ 35 on 60m, finishing in 5th place, we caught up with her again today, just under a year later, to hear from her and find out about the different things she had to deal with to keep progressing.
So Lucie, what's the news since we last talked?
This season, my coach and I decided to add an extra session to my training program. From now on, I'll be training five or six times a week. It all depends on whether I'm in the competition week or not.
I assimilate training a lot better and I recover better. I'm able to understand things better, so the practical side comes more easily.
And mentally, I feel even more determined than I was before. It wasn't always easy for me on a personal level, and that had an impact on my sporting project. I dared to go to a therapist, which enabled me to get to know myself better and take some of the drama out of things. I recently started doing mental preparation! It's really helped my performance.
Why did you use the word "dare" to refer to going to see a psychologist?
Daring, because at first, consulting a psychologist wasn't an easy decision for me. It made me feel vulnerable and weak. So I had to overcome a certain apprehension linked to the stigma surrounding mental health.
We often have a bad image of psychologists. When we go to one, it's because we think we have serious mental problems. But from my point of view, I've realized that it really helps to understand who you are, how you function, because in the end, the person on the track is the same person off the track. Going to see a shrink was a necessary step; I had to feel good mentally to feel good about everything else.
And what about your mental preparation for the purely sporting side of things?
I started fairly recently, but I've already been able to put certain techniques in place, such as visualizing the right gestures and movements just before I have to perform them. This has helped me to stay focused and execute each movement properly. It's true that I'm still in the learning phase, but I'm already seeing the benefits of this practice.
Is everything going according to plan so far?
There are always complications like injuries. But I'm getting more and more optimistic; we're doing a great job with my physio and managing everything. He helps me and reassures me a lot.
And on the faith side too. God made me understand a lot of things. I thought that if I could prepare myself perfectly, things would turn out exactly as I wanted, except that sometimes that's not the case. Injuries are a good example. Or a race that didn't go as planned, or simply not being able to reproduce in competition what I manage to do very well in training. It's frustrating, but I've realized that I'm not master of my destinyand that God had the last word in every situation. I learned to let go, to do my part by working hard, while keeping in mind that it's God who gives and it's He who directs my steps.
Now that all these things have been put in place, do you feel sufficiently fulfilled in your sport?
In fact, I've come to understand that I don't want to do athletics just for the performance or to be happy. Because if my happiness was based solely on those things, I'd often be sad, frustrated and disappointed. And I know what I'm talking about.
I understood and accepted the fact that my identity is in Jesus, and that my happiness comes from the fact that I belong to him. He made me understand that he didn't put me in athletics for nothing, but to impact and reflect who he is through what I say and do! And that helped me see things differently in my sport. It's helped me enormously to have peace of mind, to be serene, not to let stress get the better of me, and to really concentrate on what I'm doing in training, but especially in competition. Really... It's helped me put together some great races!
I can win, I can fail, I can get hurt, I can even lose everything, but the one thing that will always be there and that I will never lose is Jesus.
Let's take a look back at your current season! How do you feel about what you've achieved so far?
I'm really grateful for this winter season. It had been four years since I'd beaten my personal best, which had an impact on my mental state. There was always that little voice telling me "I can't do it!be patient, keep going, you can and you will get there". Seeing the hard work pay off really makes me feel good. I had set myself the target of running my 60 metres in 7'' 30 and reaching the final. I've almost achieved that, give or take five hundredth. But I'm really satisfied and proud.
Are you well surrounded?
The people around me are so precious! I know that I need this driving force to move forward. I'm really grateful to my coach for everything he does for me, especially for his invaluable support. I love his commitment and dedication. I progress every day with him. He helps me push my limits and reach the goals we've set together.
With my training group, we push each other to the top. We've managed to create a good atmosphere; we have fun, we support each other, we encourage each other while pushing each other to give our best.
I have a club that helps me, a family that gives me unfailing support, as do my friends, my church... It's too good to be true!
So there you have it. Thanks to Jesus who makes all this possible, because without him I am nothing!
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