Antoine Dupont in Olympic form before resuming this Saturday evening with the XV of France? This is what his start to the season with Toulouse led us to believe. The Toulouse player played a few club matches before returning to the Blues and seeing him so energetic on the pitch, you would never have said that he had just come out of a very long, well-deserved vacation.
It must be said that even during his vacation, Antoine Dupont did not really put sport aside. Training with Blaise Matuidi, American football session with the Chargers…any opportunity was a good opportunity to exercise. This need to train all the time demonstrates a very strict lifestyle on the part of the French international, and there is no doubt that it is also one of the ingredients of his success.
“Have I ever seen him drunk? Once”
In any case, this is what one of his friends, present with him during part of his American vacation, Gauthier Enfedaque, suggested. The latter delivers a very striking testimony in L'Equipe, on his friend's lifestyle, and on his extreme rigor where others will not hesitate to relax. During title celebrations, for example.
Antoine had to fit a training session into the day. A physical preparation contacted by his agent, who also did physiotherapy, was also there to support him. We had to do three weight training sessions in the room of the hotel where we were, two training sessions in the park which faced this same hotel, and another on a real sports field, free of access, to work over real distances.
I don't know anyone as serious as Antoine. He knows how to let loose on party nights, but it's always in control. What if I've ever seen him drunk? Once, after his first French champion title in 2019, but it was exceptional. More recently, last May, I remembered him after Toulouse's victory in the Champions Cup. Everyone was celebrating. He was drinking cokes.
This is also what makes the difference between Antoine Dupont and other players. Another close friend of Antoine Dupont also testified to the scrum-half's investment in maintaining an impeccable lifestyle. Yoann Maestri, former professional rugby player, spent a few days with Antoine Dupont this summer and was impressed by his discipline.
He took advantage of his friends while being picky about physical preparation and nutrition. I can assure you he's in good shape. He took me to exercise two or three times, and he burned me! Even on a touch against the Carqueiranne juniors, he did not want to lose. He was angry, on the verge of tackling some of them!
To summarize
Antoine Dupont in Olympic form before resuming this Saturday evening with the XV of France? This is what his start to the season with Toulouse led us to believe. In the first matches played with Toulouse, we would never have believed that he had gone on vacation for so long. Perhaps because the player continued to work even during his time off. Some of his friends testified to his incredible discipline.
