After his debut in the middle of last fall, the young novillero without picadors will undoubtedly be the novelty of the category throughout the months to come.
Until proven otherwise, the first name given to him by his parents is not one of those that darkens the pages of family record books. For the Clovis choice, several elements were undoubtedly put into a common core for the final decision. In the home of Frédéric and Isabelle Germain, with their inclination towards History and that, particularly, of the kings of France, the first of them already had some chances of winning. But perhaps they also knew, teaching martial arts, that the meaning of Clovis, in translation, meant “one who excels in combat”. Incredible coincidence anticipating the passion of the young son who, from childhood, showed a clear taste for bullfighting…
A first step at the French Bullfighting Center
It was around the age of 8 that little Clovis was registered, in Nîmes, his city of birth, at the French Bullfighting Center. For several years, before leaving for other horizons. The meetings with the Arlesian Chico Leal and the Mons maestro Thomas Dufau, the proximity with the matador Thomas Cerqueira, from Béziers, led him to organize his activities in different ways to continue to live his passion, nourish it and further promote the the blossoming of his personality.
Part of the education followed by correspondence
If Clovis was unable to follow a usual school itinerary, a framework in which his difficulties singularly hindered his progress, it was through the National Center for Distance Education that, by correspondence and with regular checks, he continued his studies. studies. Before seeing the green light come on allowing him to join the peloton of high-level athletes, allowing him to devote himself entirely to this learning of bullfighting which is his unique and stated objective.
Trips between Nîmes, Béziers and Mont-de-Marsan
For now, the young novillero’s schedule without picadors is divided into thirds. One in Mont-de-Marsan, where Thomas Dufau, in the afternoon, directs his progress, the other in Béziers where, twice a week, he follows the courses given by Thomas Cerqueira at the head of the bullfighting school in Béziers-Mediterranean, the last one in Nîmes finally, with his parents. If, on his regular program, the bullfighter occupies a primordial place, Clovis completes his training with a range of sustained physical activities. With on the menu, jogging, tennis, cycling. Among others.
The big click, a harvest bullfight in Nîmes
To the question “Which bullfight was significant enough to cause shock and the decision to become a bullfighter?”Clovis doesn’t search his memory for long. If the first of his meetings on the stands of the arenas was around his 7th birthday, it was during a feria in Nîmes that the real explosion took place. “It was for the 2018 Harvest Fair, with Chacón, Emilio de Justo and Pepe Moral in the cartel. A shock. I was very impressed.” And to admit that accompanied by Marcel Barnier, historic printer of the magazine Toros, despite the violence of the fights against a lot of Victorino Martín and the injury suffered by Pepe Moral against the last opponent of the day, the determination to “put in front of the bulls” was the strongest.
The first dress of light for All Saints’ Day 2024
As soon as the candles of his 16th birthday were blown out last fall, always supported by a family watching to see Clovis live his passion with intensity (the mother from Nîmes has also always frequented the arenas), the time immediately came , and the authorization to finally put on a habit of light. On the Fourques track, near the banks of the Rhône, on All Saints’ Day 2024, it was with three cut ears that he opened his prize list in the category of unpricked novilladas. Feeling, while toreing in particular the resident of Gallon, a fullness and a depth that he does not seek to silence. Now for 2025. Without delay and with visible hunger. Date already marked on the calendar, April 5 in Saint-Martin-de-Crau. And others awaiting formalization.
