Karen CLÉMENT
Skier

Karen received a grant to help her enter international competitions

What is your sporting background?
My sporting background is quite rich and diverse. As a child, I played various sports such as swimming, tennis, alpine skiing, gymnastics and judo. Over the years, my love for wide-open spaces and nature led me towards alpine skiing. I first joined the ski-studies program in Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée in the Alpes-Maritimes, before moving to the French national training center (Pôle France) in Albertville at the age of 15. I progressed through the French circuit, which allowed me to join the French ski team at 18. I started in the juniors sport teams, then moved to the European circuit group and finally to the World Cup group, where I currently compete. I race on the World Cup circuit in three disciplines: giant slalom, super-G and downhill.

How do you view your profession today?
I consider myself fortunate to be able to pursue a career I am truly passionate about. Sport is a demanding world where discipline and personal commitment are absolute, but it is also deeply rewarding to grow and find fulfilment through what you love. High-level sport requires total personal dedication, yet it offers great satisfaction and emotions: the chance to travel, to live fully, to work as part of a team and to fulfill one’s potential. Alpine skiing is an increasingly elite sport, and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to practice it, thanks to the unwavering support of my club and my partners.

How do you see yourself in 5 years? In 10 years?
In five years, I see myself still competing on the professional circuit. My goal is to climb the world rankings and to be among the top ten skiers in my disciplines. I also hope to have the opportunity to compete at the 2030 Winter Olympics, which will be held in France, a unique occasion for any athlete.
In ten years, I hope to have graduated from EM Lyon and to be channelling both that academic grounding and the skills built throughout my athletic career into a project that truly matters, or into helping others reach their own goals, in sport and beyond.

Interview conducted in 2026
Photographs taken in 2026 by Yama Ndiaye