Developing a taste for effort: Philémon Rouault, ice hockey player
Tales of sport: a series of testimonies in which EDHEC students – high-level athletes or those engaged in competitive sport – share their passion for their respective sports. They also tell us how their sports activity combines with their studies.
An ice hockey player for close to 15 years and a third-year student on the EDHEC International BBA Online, Philémon Rouault talks about his attachment to his team, his interest in finance and how sport has helped with his personal development.
“I started ice hockey when I was four. The thing I like most with this sport is the sensation you get from skating and the sense of freedom it gives me. Playing in a team is crucial for me. Diversity and solidarity are a central part of the game of ice hockey, because to win a match you need a solid group of players who trust in each other. I play in several teams in the Île-de-France region, including two in Cergy Pontoise, one of which competes in the Ligue Magnus, the highest division in France. Ice hockey players are often enrolled with several clubs”.
Philémon organises his days between training sessions and classes on line:
“Outside of competition periods, I train for at least 15 hours a week. A typical day starts with training in the morning, so I can have the afternoon free for studying. I’m in the third year of the International BBA Online, specialising in finance. The programme gives me a better understanding of current affairs, geopolitics and the economy”.
In France, ice hockey teams tend to renew some 50% of their players every year. This means Philémon discovers fresh faces at the start of each season:
“There are numerous player rotations in ice hockey, so you’re continually meeting new people. The international dimension’s also very marked, with professional teams made up of players from around the world”.
What has he got out of 15 years of playing ice hockey?
“Even if I stop playing ice hockey one day, the sport will have given me a lot on the personal front, whether in terms of a sense of sacrifice or of how to deal with difficulties. Ice hockey has taught me to look ahead over the long term, but also to set objectives and put everything in place to reach them. I’ve consequently developed a real taste for effort, in pursuit of both individual and collective success”.
Photo credit: Olivier Rolfe, Paris
Discover the other testimonies in the "Tales of Sport" series:
Learning to extend your limits: Arthur Morel, Krav Maga world champion
Giving the best of yourself: Éva Bohnenstengel, French parasport 1,500 metres indoor champion
High-altitude sensations: Chiara Pogneaux, French slalom champion
Committed to a sport and a student association: Alexandre Marchegay, Director of the Raid EDHEC trail run
Harnessing the experience of others: Océane Sercien-Ugolin, international handballer
