Highlighting women's sport
24 January celebrates the place of women in sport, whether as athletes, enthusiasts or behind the scenes activists. The day is an opportunity to highlight their achievements, promote equality and remind people of the importance of supporting women's sport. To mark the occasion, find out more about what sport means to Marine Noret (Thuasne Sport's social media manager).
What sport do you practice?
It's difficult to name just one because I practice a lot of outdoor sports. Living in Haute-Savoie, I have a huge playing field at my fingertips. But if I had to choose, it would be running, and more specifically trail running1. I've been running for as long as I can remember. I started at an athletics club when I was a teenager, after playing handball for several years. When I was 17, I stepped up my running and I've now been running almost every day for 10 years. I discovered trail running 7 years ago, after moving from the Paris region. Since then, my season has been organised between preparations for road races (such as the Vienne marathon in April) and long-distance trails, such as the French long-distance trail championships (72.4 km, 5056 m D+2) scheduled for July. In recent years, I've been particularly drawn to long-distance events.
What motivated you to take up this sport?
I think this passion has always been with me. Even when I was playing handball as a winger, my favourite thing was running from one end of the court to the other. Later, when I discovered cross3, I got a taste of the fun aspect of competition. Over time, running became much more than just a hobby, almost an addiction, and above all a real passion. The feeling of freedom it gives me is what drives me. What's more, I really enjoy the challenge of pushing myself to the limit.
What does sport mean to you as a woman?
Sport is a form of expression for me. It transforms me and gives me the confidence that I can't find anywhere else. As a woman, I find that sport allows us to discover ourselves, push our limits and reinvent ourselves. For example, when I ran the Grand trail des Templiers (80 km, 3500 m D+), I realised just how much the body and mind can achieve. When you think about it, running for 10 hours is a bit crazy. It also struck me that there were so few women at the start of this race. It's a real source of motivation for me: helping to change things.
Which sportsperson inspires you most in your discipline?
I have to admit that my answer is influenced by my professional life, as I am the agent and manager of the athlete in question, in addition to my activities as a sports marketing and communication consultant. I would say without hesitation: Anaïs Quemener. Her career and her resilience in the face of life's trials inspire me enormously. Beyond her sporting achievements (2h28 in the marathon), Anaïs is a woman who makes you want to push back the boundaries of what's possible.
Anaïs Quemener is a French athlete specialising in long-distance running, in particular the marathon, where she has been crowned French champion several times. A care assistant by profession, she founded the La Meute Running athletics club in Mitry-Mory with her father. In 2015, at the age of 24, Anaïs was diagnosed with breast cancer, an ordeal she overcame with determination, returning to competition in 2016 and continuing to excel in her discipline.
What does the movement mean to you?
If we're talking about movement around women in sport, I think it's really great to see more and more women getting involved, whatever the sport. The values conveyed by sport and its many benefits are undeniable. Personally, I'm delighted to see more women on the start lines, especially in the long formats. There's also a great sense of solidarity between the women in the races. At the Templiers, for example, I had some great moments with other women runners, with whom we shared several hours. We pushed each other, and when one of us was feeling down, the other would motivate her, and vice versa.
What are your next personal goals or sporting challenges?
This year, I'd like to get closer to a 3-hour marathon. As far as trail running is concerned, I want to continue to explore longer formats, over 70 km with some ascent. My dream would be to one day do 100 km.
1Trail running: running in the great outdoors.
2D+: the difference in altitude between the start and finish of your race.
3Cross: running on varied terrain, with obstacles.
Career path | Agnieszka Morogow
Career path - Audrey Faugiana
