Gregory Gaultier, PSA World Squash Rank 1: „Trebuie Sa Crezi In Tine!”

SquashMania.ro a ajuns la jucatorii din topul PSA, a intalnit sportivi de performanta care au raspuns solicitarii de a acorda interviuri de rang mondial, unul dintre ei este si numarul 1, Gregory Gaultier

Sa fii numarul 1 mondial este visul oricarui sportiv, sa ramai acolo este provocarea pe care ti-o dai singur zi de zi. Conform PSA World Squash Ranking, publicat pe SquashInfo.com, Gregory Gaultier reuseste cu tact si multa munca sa detina, si in septembrie 2014, locul 1.

Fiind un sportiv care isi respecta munca si fanii, Gregory Gaultier raspunde catorva intrebari pentru toti cititorii SquashMania.ro.

SQM: Buna Greg! Multumim pentru interesul si timpul pe care ni le acorzi. In primul rand, spune-ne cand ai avut primul contact cu squash-ul si care erau gandurile tale pe atunci?
G.G.: Buna tuturor! Pe cand aveam 4 ani, parintii mei detineau un club de squash, asa ca in fiecare zi mergeam la terenuri. Era amuzant pentru ca pe vremea aceea puteai sa joci singur si sa te distrezi facand asta.

SQM: Revenind in prezent, cate ore te antrenezi pe saptamana?
G.G.: Ma antrenez cam 5 zile pe saptamana,  4-5 ore pe zi, in cate doua sesiuni.

SQM: Luand exemplu un jucator de squash care se antreneaza pentru a-si imbunatati jocul, care este cel mai usor lucru pe care il poate face pentru a deveni mai bun?
G.G.: Cred ca cel mai simplu ar fi sa-ti  gasesti un antrenor care sa te indrume si sa-ti ofere toate sfaturile de care ai nevoie pentru a-ti imbunatati tehnica. Totodata cred ca e bine sa te uiti la filmulete si sa analizezi jocul, miscarile etc.

SQM: Ce ne poti spune despre nutritie, exercitii cardio in afara terenului si orele de somn?
G.G.: Alimentatia este foarte importanta, incercati sa mancati alimente sanatoase care sa va ofere energia de care aveti nevoie pentru a juca. Exercitiile in afara terenului pot fi facute cu bicicleta, asta fac eu in mare parte pentru a-mi proteja picioarele si corpul de impactul cu podeaua. Si incercati sa faceti multe abdomene (exercitii de intarire a mijlocului) si exercitii cu greutati pentru a  preveni posibile accidentari. In ceea ce priveste somnul, daca se poate sa dormiti 8 ore si, preferabil, sa va culcati inainte de orele 24:00.

SQM: Ce faci cand nu joci squash? Care e hobby-ul tau preferat?
G.G.: Cand nu joc squash, imi place sa-mi petrec timpul relaxandu-ma cu familia si sa ma intalnesc cu prietenii pe care nu-i vad prea des, calatorind mai tot timpul. Ca sa fiu sincer, imi place sa fiu acasa.

SQM: Ai o pregatire psihologica anume pentru fiecare meci? Poti sa ne dai detalii despre pregatirea psihologica dinaintea meciurilor?
G.G.: Fiecare jucator are modul propriu de a se pregati. Mie imi place sa imi impart ziua meciului in mai multe parti. Ma trezesc devreme, un mic-dejun sanatos, exercitii de stretching inainte de antrenament, vin inapoi acasa pentru pranz, o ora de somn, exercitii de stretching din nou, analiza video pentru meci si apoi ma duc mai devreme pentru o incalzire propice inaintea meciului.
Pregatirea psihologica consta in analiza video a meciurilor pentru a putea observa ce tactica sa aplic cu adversarul din ziua respectiva. Dupa meci, discut cu antrenorul in baza acestuia, din nou exercitii de stretching si apoi relaxare pentru a doua zi, incercand sa ma gandesc la alte lucruri in afara squash-ului inainte de culcare.

SQM: Din postura de jucator de top, ne poti spune cat de greu sau lung a fost drumul catre succes si performanta?
G.G.: Este o munca de-o viata. Trebuie sa crezi in tine, sa te concentrezi pe ceea ce vrei sa faci si sa muncesti din greu in fiecare zi. Munca nu este numai pe teren, ci si in afara acestuia. Consta in ceea ce faci inainte si dupa actiunea care te face sa faci performanta.

SQM: Care/cand a fost cea mai neplacuta experienta dar si cel mai frumos moment din cariera ta ca jucator de squash?
G.G.: Cea mai frumoasa zi a fost aceea in care am ajuns campion pentru prima oara. Cea mai neplacuta experienta a fost atunci cand am pierdut in Pakistan World Open, eram dupa o raceala severa si a trebuit sa merg pe teren sa joc, pierzand din cauza lipsei de energie.

SQM: Ce consideri ca este mai greu? Sa devii jucator de top sau sa te mentii acolo?
G.G.: Sa ramai acolo si sa fii constant!

SQM: Multumim inca o data, Gregory! Ai un mesaj pentru cititorii SquashMania si pentru jucatorii de squash din Romania?
G.G.:Da. Mult noroc in ceea ce priveste promovarea squash-ului si sa speram ca Romania va aduce turnee in viitor si de ce nu, un jucator de top.

Acestea fiind spuse, speram ca ati urmarit cu atentie sfaturile numarului 1 mondial, francezul Gregory Gaultier, un model pentru jucatorii de squash si nu numai si speram, asa cum ne-a urat si el, sa avem intr-o buna zi jucatori de top care sa ne reprezinte tara si in acest sport.

Nu uitati ca acesta este de abia inceputul, urmeaza interviuri si cu ceilalti jucatori din top 10 PSA care au raspuns solicitarii SquashMania.ro.

Pana atunci lasam de vizionat un filmulet prin care observam de ce este Gregory Gaultier numarul 1 mondial.
Fiti cu ochii pe minge!

credit foto: wikipedia.org

English version

SquashMania has spread its wings outside the romanian lands and ended in the PSA world top where we were pleased to meet great athlets who accepted to respond to our requests for global interwiews, one of them, Gregory Gaultier.

To be world number one is the dream of every athlete, to stay there is the challenge you give yourself every day. According to PSA World Squash Ranking, Gregory Gaultier manages with tact and hard work to be number one.
Being an athlete who respects his work and his fans, today Gregory Gaultier answers to some  questions, squash related,  for all SquashMania readers.

Hello Greg! Thank you for the time and the interest shown to SquashMania readers. First of all, tell us when did you have your first contact with squash and what were your thoughts at that time?
Hello! My parents were manager of a squash club when i was 4 years so i was going on court everyday after school. Was just fun cause at that age you can play alone.

Back in our time, tell us how many hours do you spend training a week?
I train 5 days a week , 2 sessions a day approx 4-5 hours per day

As an example, take an everyday squash player who practices and trains for improving his game, what’s the easiest thing you can do to become a better player?
I guess find a good coach who can give you the right tips to correct your technique. And also watch videos to analyze the game, the movement etc.

What about nutrition, cardio workouts off-court and sleeping hours?
Nutrition is important, try eat healthy food to bring you the energy you need to perform.
Workout off court can be done on bike, that s what i do most of the time to save my legs and body from impact with the ground. Do a lot of core exercices and reenforcement workout with weights to prevent injuries. Sleeping always before 12 and a good 8 hours sleep if possible.

What do you do when you don’t play squash? What is your favorite hobby?
When I don t play squash I’m spending my time to relax with my familly and meet friends I don’t see much cause I travel all the time. I just like to be home to be honest.

Do you have a mental preparation process for each game? Could you please tell us more about your pre-game routines?
Each player has his own routine. Mine is to cut the day in pieces before my match. Wake up, nice breakfast, stretch then go practice, come back for lunch, quick nap, strech again, video analyses for my match then go to the venue hour before match and a nice warm up before the match.
Mental preparation is done with video analyses to see what kind of tactic I have to get against my opponent of the day. After the match also debrief with coach, stretch again and relax for the next day, try to switch off the mind from squash if possible before going to bed.

As a top player, could you tell us how long or difficult was the road to success and performance?
It s an all life of work.You need to believe in yourself, be focus on what you do and work hard everyday.
The work is not only on the squash court but also mainly outside. It’s all you do be before and after the action which make you performed.

What/when was the most unpleasant experience and also the most beautiful moment from your career as a squash player?
Most beautiful the day I became british open champion for the 1st time. The worst was to lose in last 16 in pakistan world open after being badly sick and had to go on court play and lose because I had no energy.

What do you think it’s harder? To become a top player or to stay there?
To stay there and being consistent.

Thank you, again. If you have a message for the members of  the Squashmania community (and also for the readers of this site and for the Romanian squash players.), what would that be?
Goodluck with your squash and hopefully Romania will bring some tournaments in future and maybe a top player one day.

That being said, we hope that you follow carefully the advice of world number 1, Gregory Gaultier, is a model not only for squash players but also for the rest of the people, and  we hope, as we wished to us too that  someday we will have great athlets who will represent with pride our beautiful country.