Further Personal Information |
| Residence |
Sainte-Hélène, FRA |
Sport Specific Information |
| Club / Team |
EA St Medard en Jalles: France |
General Interest |
| Injuries |
He was out of competitive action for 18 months after requiring surgery on both of his knees before returning to the international stage at the 2014 European Championships in Tel Aviv, Israel. (espritbleu.franceolympique.com, 31 Mar 2014) |
Sport Specific Information |
| Why this sport? |
His father and family friend Patrick Cosnard encouraged him to take up the sport. He began to pursue it seriously in 2005. "The first two years I really didn't like it. I had problems with posture and coordination. I only kept at it because my friends were also part of the club." |
General Interest |
| Hero / Idol |
US athlete Carl Lewis, Ukrainian pole vaulter Sergey Bubka, Turkish weightlifter Naim Suleymanoglu. (femme2sport.com, 29 Dec 2011) |
Sport Specific Information |
| When and where did you begin this sport? |
He took up weightlifting at age 11 in Saint-Medard-en-Jalles, France. |
Further Personal Information |
| Occupation |
Athlete |
| Languages |
French |
General Interest |
| Sporting philosophy / motto |
"There are no secrets or shortcuts to become a champion. You must train." (femme2sport.com, 29 Dec 2011) |
| Other information |
ALMOST QUIT
He considered retiring from weightlifting because of his knee injuries. "I said I was going to stop. Each month the recovery was delayed. I thought it was over, but my coaches have always supported me. They told me I could come back but it would take time. They never let me down and that's the only thing that motivated me. I said I would try, anyway I had nothing to lose." (espritbleu.franceolympique.com, 31 Mar 2014)
BAD TATTOO
He has a tattoo of a gorilla on his back. "It wasn't quite what I wanted. It's too full. I was a little disappointed. I went to see a friend of my father who is a tattoo artist to see if he could fix it up, but nothing could be done. Luckily I can't see it." (femme2sport.com, 29 Dec 2011)
ARMY SERVICE
He has served in the 503rd Regiment du Train, a logistical regiment of the French armed forces, in Martignas, France. Prior to that he worked as a sports teacher at the weightlifting club HC Langres and at the Girondins Bordeaux football club. (benjaminhennequin.blogspot.com, 17 Jan 2012) |
| Memorable sporting achievement |
Competing at the 2011 World Championships in Paris, France. (espritbleu.franceolympique.com, 31 Mar 2014) |
Further Personal Information |
| Family |
One son |
General Interest |
| Nicknames |
Benji (easmmusculation.jimdo.com, 24 May 2015) |
Sport Specific Information |
| Name of coach |
Vencelas Dabaya; Patrice Cosnard |
Rio de Janeiro
London
Beijing
Houston, TX
Almaty
Paris
Antalya
Goyang
Chiang Mai
Santo Domingo
Førde
Tbilisi
Tel Aviv
Kazan
Bucharest
Lignano Sabbiadoro
Wladyslawowo