“At 8 years old, he already had the goal of going to the Olympic Games so he is in the logical continuation of his childhood dream. There are few who verbalize this kind of intentions, ”smiles Thierry Royer, ex-coach always present to polish the Béarn nugget of archery, Iban Bariteaud. Last summer, the 17-year-old Lescarien swallowed everything during young international events, causing his rating to skyrocket. Last weekend, for his first major competition among seniors, he took sixth place in the very tough Nîmes tournament (indoors), beaten in the quarter-finals by the future winner, the German Felix Wieser. A Gard city synonymous with happiness lately…
“At 8 years old, he already had the goal of going to the Olympic Games so he is in the logical continuation of his childhood dream. There are few who verbalize this kind of intentions, ”smiles Thierry Royer, ex-coach always present to polish the Béarn nugget of archery, Iban Bariteaud. Last summer, the 17-year-old Lescarien swallowed everything during young international events, causing his rating to skyrocket. Last weekend, for his first major competition among seniors, he took sixth place in the very tough Nîmes tournament (indoors), beaten in the quarter-finals by the future winner, the German Felix Wieser. A Gard city synonymous with happiness lately.
Licensed to Boé (Lot-et-Garonne), an ambitious D2 club, since leaving the country, the young archer is now a member of the Arc club of Nîmes, six-time French D1 champion and double European champion. A structure in which he can rub shoulders with the 2016 Olympic vice-champion Jean-Charles Valladont… And a new environment to tame, like this target which moves back 10 meters among the big ones. “In cadets, we shoot at 60 meters. There, it goes to 70, the Olympic distance, ”says Iban Bariteaud, not intimidated by the challenge. “I’m going to try to qualify for the European Championships (in Munich in June, editor’s note) then to make a podium, because I still want to stay at the top. Afterwards, in one or two years, I would like to join INSEP. Before fulfilling everyone’s dream, taking part in the Olympics”, traced the kid when we met him last August, on the Compagnons de l’Arc shooting range, in Lescar.
Bitten
A place where he wore out the horns of his fingers tirelessly pulling on the rope of his machine. “It’s my little family, I come back to see them as soon as I’m there. I had my college 5 minutes away on foot so as soon as I had some time, I came. It was 4 times a week at least, even 5-6 times”. Passionate about his sport, the young man with piercing blue eyes has not missed a single broadcast competition and has not deviated from his trajectory since the arrows lodged in his heart, at age 7, after discovering the discipline with the center of Hobbies. Thierry Royer was there when the boy began to develop his acumen at tickling the middle of the target.
He trained him, advised him, encouraged him to go to the Nantes hope center at 14 then to the France pole in Bordeaux – where he is still – the following year, in order to continue his progress, whose curve seems exponential in recent months. . The trainer, a former employee of the departmental archery committee, is now on his own. And focuses on the physical and mental preparation of the athletes he follows. Even today, he helps Iban Bariteaud to strengthen his head: “We have always kept in touch. I offer him tools to manage emotionally certain moments when the pressure is important. He tests them and he sees what suits him”.
Repetition
In a practice with monastic demands, the mind does more than the arms. “Some days it’s complicated, especially since we always do the same thing. You have to think about your goals and have fun, without that you can’t move forward,” explains Iban. Putting laughter and smiles where there are none, in short. And above all, doing his scales again and again for the young man in a Creps in Bordeaux, who trains twice a day for 2 to 4 hours, in addition to racing and weight training sessions. “To be an archer, you don’t necessarily need qualities but rather hard work. It’s a sport of repetition, it starts with technique because you need regularity and mastering your bow. We also need concentration, to create a bubble. I use workout routines for that.” As well as an “application and a desire to be the best” which command the respect of Thierry Royer.
When those of his age counted their money to buy a game console or a piece of clothing, Iban Bariteaud hunted down a… handful of bows to his liking. “I tried four or five before I found the right one. It’s about the shape, the grip, how it reacts with the branches. Now I can no longer separate myself from mine”. If he could have requested federal aid to finance his equipment at “2500 – 3000 euros”, the Béarnais managed by dint of “buying by winning a few competitions, reselling”. Without forgetting the support of his parents, who have always supported him. Except on the shooting ranges, where they are prohibited. “He doesn’t like it, he prefers to stay in his thing with his friends”, reveals his mother. His favorite sport will never make Iban live in France but he lives it intensely. Until leading him to his Olympic dreams, in Paris 2024 or later?
