Zadig BREGEON
Rower

Zadig received a grant to finance his sporting season.

What is your artistic background?
I started rowing on the Maine River in Angers at the age of 11 after playing golf and rugby. It was love at first sight! In 2020, I was Zone Champion in Skiff at the age of 13. A few months later, in July 2021, I won the French Championship title in coxed four and the following year, in 2022, I was French Vice-Champion, again in coxed four. In September 2023, I was accepted to the Pôle Espoir training center at the Olympic base in Vaires-sur-Marne, and I am now in my final year at the Emily Brontë high school in Lognes. My first year at the Pôle Espoir was marked by sporting successes and culminated in my selection for the French national team to compete in the Youth Cup, the U19 European Junior Championships, in the Czech Republic last August.

How do you view your profession today?
It's extremely difficult to be among the best; it requires a huge amount of work and mental strength. At the same time, you also have to keep up with your studies. Becoming a champion requires passion and real perseverance, but also solid training. Federal structures such as the Pôles Espoirs and Pôles France allow you to pursue both academic and athletic careers. It's a real advantage to be able to join these programs, as they allow you to progress in the best possible conditions with flexible schedules and high-performance equipment.

How do you see yourself in five years? In 10 years?
In five or 10 years, I see myself on a boat, no matter what happens, with a few medals around my neck... My ultimate dream would obviously be to win an Olympic medal, but there's still a long, long way to go...

Interview conducted in 2025
Photographs taken by Isabelle Chapuis in 2025