A 33-year-old from Jura travels the globe to practice cliff jumping. This practice consists of jumping from cliffs or waterfalls several meters high. His performances posted on social networks are followed by nearly 470,000 subscribers.
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Several tens of meters high, it soars into the void in breathtaking places. This daily life is that of Jérémy Nicollin, a 33-year-old from Jura. This former specialist in javelin throwing, twice French champion and three times vice-champion of France, then product manager of an eyewear brand, has devoted himself entirely to cliff jumping from 2021. This sport appealed to him from childhood.
“I have always loved sports extremeis do of cliff that I was since I was little. I remember jumping with my father at 7 years at Grodar above of Saint-Claude. I jumped 10 meters at 8 years old“, explains Jérémy Nicollin.
Interviewed in April in a previous article, Jérémy has since doubled his community to reach nearly 470,000 subscribers on Instagram. Thanks to his activity, he has attracted new sponsors who finance his activity around the world. Recently he went to Canada to find new playgrounds. “JI have beautiful memories of the waterfalls this summer in Canada, 30 meters above Kakwa Falls. We walked for miles to get there. It’s quite an adventure to check the bottom and find a take-off (starting place of the jump), and in the end it did it“, explains the athlete.
The videos posted on these networks are impressive. He jumps into an old underground quarry in Wales. From a waterfall in the United States, a bridge in Italy. It is also for the sensations a few seconds before the jump that Jérémy tirelessly searches for new places.
We have a little stress, a little fear. It’s good fear that keeps us focused. We start the countdown, there is a moment of ‘enjoyment’ in the air before concentrating for impact. Then there’s the adrenaline.
But the athlete is far from being a hothead, all these jumps require well-honed preparation. “We look at the bottom, we measure the cliff, there is a person at the bottom for safety. At 40m we arrive 100 km in the water. What is important is to use the muscles at the right time with specific movements you have to go step by step, you go up little by little to get the body used to the impacts.“, explains Jérémy Nicollin.
Cliff jumping has a large international community. The sportsman assures that there is a “true solidarity” between the followers. European groups organize sessions around the world to support each other and jump together.
Next step for Jérémy, Reunion, to once again defy the laws of gravity. Ultimately, he hopes to continue to progress in his field, at his own pace, and without getting injured. And why not one day, surpass 53 meters in height, considered to be the record in the field, currently held by an American.
