Professional athlete, member of the French athletics team for the Olympics, Dean-Nick Allen, 27, a native of French Guiana, is known as “France’s greatest hope.” A family man, he honors us by sharing his experience in the field of discus throwing. A discipline he has been practicing for 14 years.
At three years old, he was already on the race tracks. Four times, he found himself on the podium for men’s discus throwing at the French Championships. Dean-Nick Allen has experienced ups and downs in his young career as a professional athlete. Now he’s setting his sights on the 2024 Olympic Games. Interview with “France’s greatest hope.”
Why did you choose athletics? And why specifically discus throwing?
It wasn’t exactly a choice. As a child, I planned to get into football or basketball. Then, I felt I was also performing very well in athletics. I started with sprinting, but I wasn’t very fast. I eventually took up discus throwing, knowing it was a discipline where I could use my build.
What inspired you to pursue athletics?
I don’t really have an idol, but my mother and aunt are the two real people who encouraged me to engage in high-level sports. My aunt herself was in athletics, specializing in the 100-meter hurdles, competing in European and World Championships. My mother set a new French record in the 4×100 relay. All these family achievements pushed me towards the professional sports world.
As a professional athlete, what has profoundly changed compared to your normal routine?
It’s true that I’ve been quite different from all my friends from a young age. I train more than six hours a day, three hours in the morning and the rest in the evening. It occupies most of my day, and in the evening, I come home tired and drained.
“The staff is my family!” Does having your loved ones with you during training make things easier? Does it give you more confidence?
Of course. We started when I was on a training course in French Guiana. My loved ones take care of a lot of my physical preparation, where every detail is important because, in high-level sports, everything can be decided in an instant. They’re very meticulous. Having a family cocoon as staff and coaching helps me enormously.
Discus throwing is based on power and running. For you, which of the two needs more work to succeed?
I would say both. To be a pro at discus throwing, you need to do a lot of strength training and running training. It’s a mix of coordination, speed, strength, refinement… Here are all the qualities needed to be a specialist in this discipline. Progress is another matter. You must manage to progress and perfect your level in all these micro-disciplines to become a good thrower.
In the middle of the competition, what is the hardest moment for you?
The hardest doesn’t come from the present moment but rather from the one before. The day before the start of the championships, I need to stay focused constantly. I speak very little and stay in my bubble to be ready for the competitions. I make a plan of all the scenarios and uncertainties that can happen during the games so as not to be surprised or disturbed. And with the help of my mental coach, I take a lot of precautions in advance.
What is your best and worst memory as a professional athlete?
In sports, the best comes from the worst. During the France Elite selections, I finished eighth in the championships before my family’s eyes. Disappointed, sad, I expected to achieve a better performance in this competition. But later, the encouragement from my loved ones allowed me to lift my head and believe in my dreams: to climb the next podiums I aim for. An athlete must always find a way to get back up after metaphorically falling. You must never let failures get you down. The goal is to move forward by trying to overcome obstacles. We all know failure before winning. It’s from the worst memories that the best come.
Have you ever suffered serious injuries during competitions or training?
Very often. I had surgery on both knees a long time ago. With training, you learn to know your body. I know mine; I know what weight to lose, where I need to work the most, etc. But injuries are not just negative: when you get injured, you strengthen, solidify your body, and thus you progress.
For you, do you have to accept failure first to know success?
Absolutely. There’s always a lesson to learn from bad memories. At the moment, it seems catastrophic, but with time, it turns into something positive. My worst memory goes back two years. At that time, I finished fourth at the French Championships, and I was deeply disappointed. But this crushing failure boosted me and gave me the desire to progress. Even if I didn’t reach the podium, that bad moment became a good memory for me.
What are your plans as a member of the French athletics team for the Olympic Games?
My personal goal is to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics. I also hope to be part of the bobsleigh selection in 2022. The goal is to do both successively. This goal is clearly the one I have for my life.
How did you experience confinement? Did it affect your physical performance?
I didn’t experience it too badly; it even allowed me to have a vacation. As someone who likes to be physically active, I spent two months with my family without the possibility of training throughout the confinement. Apart from that, I lived through this period well, unlike many others. I saw my daughter grow, blossom, and I was able to spend much more time with her than I would have been able to before. The hardest part was resuming training. I had to double down, but I expected that. Without being able to exercise at home, I had to make a double effort to regain my physical form.
Athletics fans know you as “France’s greatest hope.” Does this nickname suit you? What do you say to it?
This nickname makes me smile and even laugh a little. I don’t consider myself the best, just a hope, even for myself.
Do you have a message for young athletes who wish to reach a high level in athletics as you have?
Here’s my message: “VDP”: Vigor, Energy, and Promptness. These three words are the foundation for reaching a high level. By applying them, all young people are capable of achieving their goals in athletics.
