#26 How To Trust Yourself In The Moment with Antoine BENNETEAU
Athlete Case Study: (FRANCE) A University of Florida Grad, NCAA All-American, Was Ranked 370 in ATP Singles & Journalist @ L'Equipe 21

January 31, 2015

BACKGROUND
On today’s show we will talk about some of Antoine’s struggles he went through as an athlete and how he got through them to get to where he is today. We will discuss the importance of trusting in yourself and staying in the moment when times get a little shaky.

BIO
Born, Antoine BENNETEAU, from Bourg-en-Bresse, France on June 30, 1986.
Played in the French Open twice at the ages of 16 and 17.
He is an NCAA All-American; Antoine graduated from the University of Florida on a full scholarship with a business management degree.
After college he went Pro. His Best ATP ranking in singles was 370 in the world. He has won 3 ATP futures tournaments
Now a TV journalist for a French Sports Channel called L'Equipe 21.
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MOST GRATEFUL TODAY FOR:
The luck to go through all of the experiences I’ve gone through, where I am today, and the people I have met along the way

PERSONAL QUOTE:
“Impose your good fortune, stay close to your happiness and walk towards (your) risk. Watching you they will get used to it.” -René Char (French poet & rugby player)

MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON IN YOUR LIFE:
My brother, Julien Benneteau, and my coach when I was a young teen.

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS
What was one of your biggest struggles or failures and what did you learn?
When was an important time (i.e. match point) you took a chance, or you DIDN’T take a chance, and you made a mistake and what did you learn from this experience?
When was the moment in your life you had a “lightbulb” moment?
What is one of your proudest moments?
What made you decide to go to school in the US and what did you take away from being there?
What are some of the differences between the opportunity in the US and in France?
Do you think your degree from Univ. of Florida has helped you so far in life and will in the future more than if you didn’t get it?
What has you most excited these days and what direction are you headed?
Why do you have interests in writing a book?

KEY LESSONS
Every athlete goes through some type of injury where they miss a little bit or A LOT of competition

Take care of your body, don’t let the pressure of the game or team counting on you prolong a possible serious injury or cause you to ignore it

When injured, find out what you need to do to rehabilitate, do everything you need to do to come back stronger and better

“I took some days off spent the holidays in France, but I shortened them and I went to Philadelphia and got surgery...I worked hard everyday with my rehab to come back stronger, which I did.” -AB @ 13:32

When in the moment of a match or game and you have to make BIG decisions in a short amount of time, remember to stay calm, and fight through

Keep trusting yourself and follow your heart and instincts, especially if things have been going well for you thus far

Take it one match/game at a time, stay in the moment

“I was in Guadalajara, and that’s when I won my first tournament in the ATP Future and..all the matches, all 5 of them were tough, but I was in a building process and I was taking each step at a time, each match at a time, and it led me to the title.” -AB @ 21:08

Life is about taking risks and making choices to find your way or path in life
Getting a degree in college will give you more opportunities after your athletic career is finished
“If I didn’t have my degree from Univ. of Florida, I wouldn’t be able to be in my journalism school….and I wouldn’t do the job I love right now.” -AB @ 27:04

Always have a plan for after the ending of your athletic career

Whatever it is what you are doing, career wise, it’s important that you enjoy it

ANTOINE’S TIP JAR
What’s the best advice you have ever received?
A coach once told me, “do today, what will make you better today.”

When you were playing, what was one of the first things you would do when you came to a new arena?
Take time to see the courts, feel out the atmosphere, recognize my favorite spots.

What personal habits contributed most to your success?
The night before a match, I always take time to visualize what I wanted to happen.

Sleep & Morning ritual:
I would sleep for 8 hours, and first thing in the morning I have some water

Name one way you’d like to improve yourself as a person?
I’d like to be more effective in whatever I do and be a bit more patient

A learning resource you love to use…
A Book called: "The stranger" by Albert Camus

Give a tool/habit you love to use to stay healthy:
Playing in a soccer game every week

A useful tool or tip for eating on the go -OR- for traveling in general?
Travel in sweat pants

How do you add value to others?
I coach and give advice to some players that have come to me that are going through what I went through

What are some tips you can give to people on how to make a plan to use sport and also do more with their lives and putting that plan into action?
Keep yourself interested in things other than JUST your sport, (i.e. instruments, reading, marketing, entrepreneurship)

With all of the resources and new things you know now, if you could go back, what would you do differently to set yourself up for success?
I would do everything the same with more patience, less stress, and I would have more confidence and trust myself more.

INFO
Charity/Organizations They Add Value to:
I give the clothes that I don't use anymore to the Red Cross Organization

Business/Work:
TV Journalist for a French Sports Channel, L’Equipe 21

Past/Current Teams:
University of Florida Tennis

Recommended Guest:
Alexis Musialek, current tennis player on ATP tour and former member of the University of Kentucky.

Follow Athlete Here: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Email

Piece of Wisdom from Antoine
“We are athletes that love sports and sports is our passion, but we are also human beings with feelings and things can go wrong, and its ok, we also have to remember that being an athlete can be a solution in life when you have personal problems, being on a team can be very helpful, you learn so much being an athlete.”

Definition of An Athlete?
"I think an athlete is someone that has the chance to live his passion and to earn his life with it and is able to know that and to be humble about it and to enjoy it, not someone that is beyond that."

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