Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medallist, Cyrille Maret is back on the mat and the energy is unmistakable. That quiet intensity, that powerful presence, that unmistakable spark of a man who has lived and breathed judo his entire life. He landed in Chisinau as the new Men’s Head Coach of the U23 French team.
“Yes, long time no see,” he laughs. “It’s my first tournament with this team my first step in this new chapter.”
After years of collecting medals and countless world-class moments, Maret took a turn, away from the tatami, into the world of construction. For three years, he traded gis for hard hats. “It was important for me to stop completely,” he explains. “When you finish a career, you need to close the door for a while. Judo was my life, but I had to build something else, literally. I worked on building sites at management level.”
A Call from Home
A few months ago, however, the French Judo Federation called and they talked about his future, about his experience, about the next generation that needed leaders like him. “I told them I was ready,” he says simply. “After three years, I missed it. Judo is my life. I wanted to come back, to give my experience to the young French athletes.”
Now, in the new role he started in September, Maret is all in. Based at INSEP in Paris, he works alongside Nicolas Mossion, leading a vibrant, hungry group of young judoka eager to make their mark. “We are building something strong,” he says. “They want more all the time. They train hard, they fight hard and that energy motivates me too.”
From Receiving to Giving
Transitioning from elite athlete to coach feels natural for Maret. “During my career, I received so much, from coaches, from friends, from family. Judo looks like an individual sport but you can’t do it alone. Now, it’s my time to give back.”
That philosophy defines his coaching style, intense, honest, and grounded in respect. “I am a little old school,” he admits. “Judo is a fighting sport. If you don’t train hard, you can’t go high. My philosophy is simple: hard training, good competition, good spirit.”
Hands-On Coaching… Literally
Maret isn’t one to stay on the sidelines. He steps onto the tatami with his athletes, feeling the grip, the rhythm, the struggle. “It’s important to practice with them. When you explain judo, they need to feel it the kumi-kata, the timing, the connection. That’s how they learn.”
He shares that philosophy with Automne Pavia, another Olympic medallist now coaching the women’s team. “It’s great for the young ones to train with people who have been there. They can see it’s real. They can feel it.”
Every Friday at INSEP, the men’s and women’s teams come together for one big, tough session, everyone fighting everyone. “It’s the French way,” Maret says with pride. “We train as a team, we push each other. The spirit is strong, one group, one energy.”
Be Ready to Fight
So what’s his goal as U23 head coach? Maret doesn’t hesitate. “I want to help them be ready, not just to train, but to fight. To handle the pressure, the adrenaline, the moment. Ambition is nothing without action.”
When asked to compare his generation to today’s, he pauses. “It’s different. In my time, we were juniors like Teddy [Riner], Hugo [Legrand], Axel [Clerget]. We didn’t have all the distractions, phones, social media, everything…, but this generation still has the same fire. They want to work. They want to grow. The values of judo are still there, and that’s what matters.”
Maret’s story feels like a full circle from the construction site to the dojo, from student to mentor, from receiving to giving. “I am happy,” he says. “I had my time on the mat. Now I help others live theirs. It is a new challenge, but it is still judo, it is still my life. I am right where I belong.”
Images: Gabi Juan
Author: Szandra Szogedi