If one could sum up Dean in a single sentence, it could be: 1.92m of challenge for 100kg of determination. Dean-Nick Allen was born in Guyana 23 years ago. He arrived in Nice at the age of 3 with his mother. They settled in the Moulins district.
His mother, Laura Joseph, is a former high-level sprinter. She held a French record in the youth categories. Upon arriving in the mainland, she coached at a Nice association called “l’INS.” “At 3 years old, she was already placing cones on the track for me,” he confides. “She quickly encouraged me to train.”
A little later, an “urban athlé” detection campaign led our thrower to the NCAA. He first practiced all disciplines with a preference for running and high jump. But from the minime category onwards, his build and results directed him towards shot put and discus throws.
The first results came in the youth categories. From the second-year cadet to Espoir, he collected French championship titles in discus and second places in shot put. This was followed by selections for the French youth team, and later on, selections with the senior teams, notably in the European Cup.
This year, when training, there is no coach for Dean, in fact, no coach at all. The thrower decided to train alone. After several years of collaboration with Jacques Pelgas at the Boulouris site, he decided to stay in Nice. “I got along well with Jacques, but I had to return to my parents in Nice for economic reasons. Here, I am a volunteer firefighter.”
The medium-term goal is to qualify for the next summer and winter Olympic Games. Dean has ventured into bobsleigh to fill the winter seasons. He is currently a member of France’s four-man bobsleigh team.
by Christophe Bourguignon
