Further Personal Information |
| Residence |
Villeneuve-Loubet, FRA |
Sport Specific Information |
| Club / Team |
ES Villeneuve-Loubet: Villeneuve-Loubet, FRA |
General Interest |
| Injuries |
In 2011 he strained a muscle in his right thigh which kept him from competing for six months. (lemonde.fr, 21 Mar 2012) |
Sport Specific Information |
| Why this sport? |
As a young boy he used to watch professional weightlifters at the gym where he trained and dream that one day he would be like them. His parents didn't want him to be a weightlifter when he first started. "I started doing it in secret. I pretended to be cleaning up so that my mother didn't realise anything." |
General Interest |
| Ambitions |
He aims to win a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. (lemonde.fr, 21 Mar 2012) |
Sport Specific Information |
| Name of coach |
Claude Fehmann |
| When and where did you begin this sport? |
He began weightlifting at age 11. |
International Debut |
| Competing for |
Cameroon |
Further Personal Information |
| Occupation |
Armed Services, Athlete |
| Languages |
English, French |
General Interest |
| Nicknames |
Vence. (lemonde.fr, 07 Nov 2011) |
Sport Specific Information |
| Coach from which country? |
France |
General Interest |
| Other information |
FROM CAMEROON TO FRANCE
He moved from Cameroon to France in 1999 and competed for Cameroon until after the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. He won three gold medals at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England, for his native country. In November 2004 he obtained French citizenship. (Radio France, 12 Oct 2006)
PROUD FATHER
"My son, he is my source of motivation. I want him to be proud of me." (Radio France, 12 Oct 2006) |
Further Personal Information |
| Family |
Son Yoan |
London
Beijing
Athens
Paris
Antalya
Goyang
Chiang Mai
Santo Domingo
Doha
Vancouver, BC
Warsaw
Kazan
Bucharest
Lignano Sabbiadoro
Tunis