You ran in the race to support the Paris bid to host the Olympic Games 2024. Why is the Paris bid so important to you?

I think the Paris 2024 project is very innovative! If the Olympics are held in Paris, it will be a fantastic promotion of our capital city: the Velodrome around the Arc de Triomphe, fencing at the Grand Palais… it will make people want to discover Paris, through sport. And also, of course, I’m well aware of our Group’s involvement in this project, because if Paris is selected, we will free up part of the Plaine Saulnier Sud site in Saint-Denis to make room for the construction of the Aquatic Centre!

What do you remember most about the race?

I remember the festive atmosphere most of all – it was a really wonderful moment. When we all arrived on the Alexandre III bridge, I really felt all the energy and the enthusiasm surrounding the Paris bid, which gave the event quite a spectacular feel. In our group of ENGIE runners, the atmosphere was also very congenial and relaxed. Our race leader, Jean-Michel, a member of the French Athletics Federation, adapted himself to the very heterogeneous level of the group so that everyone could keep up, and we even went off-course at one point to take pictures under the Eiffel Tower. I won’t forget the sharing spirit that marked this event, as with many sporting events!

Incidentally, are you involved in many sports competitions, particularly with ENGIE?

In fact, it was by challenging myself to take part in the first Mud Day* with my brother and sister that I started running. I didn’t really fall in love with it to start with. But ultimately, it’s a discipline that allows you to make rapid progress, which is motivating! I finally developed a taste for it, and ever since, I regularly sign up for competitions: the 10 km L’Equipe race, the Paris half-marathon, the Paris-Versailles race, the Raid des Alizés, etc.  I ran in the Raid and the Women’s Race with the Group. I find that these events create a lot of cohesion and a sharing spirit within the teams. As soon as I have the opportunity to run with ENGIE, I jump at the chance!

People often draw comparisons between work and the sporting spirit. In your professional life, which sporting values do you try to apply?

During the Raid des Alizés, I ran for the “Premier de cordée” association whose motto is “Sport, a sharing dynamic”. That sums up for me very well what sport is. And I think that this spirit of sharing, which you find in team sports especially, needs to be present in teamwork. The work allows us to exchange with others, to exceed our goals, to perform, to set goals together, just like in sports activities. And then, in sport just like at work, you have to commit yourself, move forward step by step, and stay motivated!

So the challenge “ENGIE Show Your Energy” is just right for you! Are you going to participate?

I naturally downloaded the application as soon as it was released. I’ve already been involved in 14 competitions, so an ENGIE competition means there’s double the reason to try it!
*a 13 kilometre-long obstacle course inspired by military assault courses.