<B><I>?I owe my success to Hervé Stéphan?s encouragement ?</I></B>

?The trigger in my career was certainly when I was in Senegal in 1999. I was there for a training session and was finding it very difficult to adapt for several reasons. I told my coach that I wanted to go back home. He was not happy. He looked at me and told me frankly that if I wanted to go back home it was up to me. He said that everything was ready, even my flight ticket, but if I wanted to change my mind it was not too late. He motivated me by telling me that I should keep on trying. If I had not completed that training session, I would have never become the athlete I am today.

It is not easy for a coach to find the right way to motivate his athlete before a competition. Hervé Stéphan has always found the right words to motivate me. Indeed, he always gave me the psychological support I needed. He would always push me to persevere. I think that even when it comes to studies, a teacher needs to know how to motivate his student. Hervé Stéphan knows exactly how to do it.

Like every other human being I have often faced difficulties because of some people who do not like me. When these kinds of things were occurring, my coach would always come to me and tell me how I should deal with things. So sometimes, he would even transform himself into a counselor.

He is someone who is disciplined and very rigorous. For example, he has given me the habit of always being on time. He said one day that if there is a race and I am late, the race will not wait for me! Ever since I have got into the habit of never being late.

I left school when I was really young. I never enjoyed going to school. I told my parents that there was no point in keeping me in school because they were spending their money for no reason. But when I look at youngsters today, they spend their parents? money to have fun. It is sad to say, but it is the truth. I do not regret having left school early because I realize how lucky I have been to have met such a great guy as Hervé Stéphan.

Hervé Stéphan is not a very strapping man physically. He is quite short. Today he is more than 65 years old; however, he does not look like someone of that age. Furthermore he is someone who has his head on his shoulders.

Over the years, Hervé Stéphan and I have built up a very solid a friendly relationship. I would even say that it has now become like a father and son relationship. He has two different attitudes when I am training and outside training time. Indeed, after training, we sometimes go have a cup of tea or coffee together. In those moments we talk about everything, even about personal things. I firmly believe this is essential in our relationship. I also think that it should be the same between a teacher and his pupil.

The greatest moment in my career was definitely when I broke my record in the world championship in Paris in 2003. Once the race was over, I went to Hervé Stéphan and he was so moved emotionally that he did not know what to say. He was really pleased with my performance.

I just hope that this relationship can last as long as possible and that I can win even more competitions. I want to go on winning for my family, my coach, my friends and all the Mauritian people!?