After “feeding the tribe” for more than 40 days, Thibault won this season of the TF1 adventure game. Proud of his native Corsica, this outstanding farmer and fisherman knew how to contain his sanguine character and draw the right lessons from an adventure that he describes as “incredible“. A few hours after his victory, he confided in Puremédias on his state of mind during the pole ordeal, and his plans for the future.
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How do you feel after your victory? Do you realize what is happening to you?
Thibault : It's still a little unreal. I'm starting to realize thanks to all the messages of support I receive, whether from family, friends or even strangers on social media. There is a lot of kindness, and it touches me enormously. But it’s true that it takes a little time to impact.
I guess it was a short night after the finale?
(Laughs) Oh yes, very short! I only slept an hour and a half. But it doesn't matter, I live on adrenaline and excitement. It's a unique day, so I'm making the most of it.
Let's come back to the moment of the counting. How did you feel when you realized you had won?
It’s an immense joy, really. A pride too, because winning against adventurers of this caliber is enormous. I think we had a particularly strong promotion this year. All the candidates were very athletic, strategic or experts in survival. And we saw that viewers agreed, because they commented a lot on the quality of the profiles this season.
“I knew I couldn't go home having betrayed someone”
Thibault, winner of “Koh-Lanta: The cursed tribe”
In addition to physical and mental skills, you have often spoken about the values of Corsica. Why was this so important to you?
For us, the notions of loyalty and respect are essential. I knew I couldn't go home having betrayed someone. This would have been very badly received, and I myself would not have experienced it well. I wanted to defend an honest way of playing, based on merit and solidarity. Corsica is a land of traditions and simplicity. We are very attached to nature, to hunting, fishing, gathering. I wanted to share this philosophy of life which is centered on mutual aid and respect for the environment. It was important for me to show where I come from and what I care about.
ALSO READ: “I knew I was going to be criticized” by eliminating Ugo: Thibault (“Koh-Lanta”) looks back on his adventure before the final pole test
Let’s talk about the pole test. What were you thinking at that moment?
I did a sort of retrospective of my adventure. I thought about the strong moments, my victories, my failures, but also about my family, my daughters, what I wanted for the future. And above all, I stared at a specific point, a black hole in the rock in front of me, to stay focused, and I didn't leave it during the two and a half hours of the ordeal. I knew it would all come down to that.
“Ilyesse was trying to distract us, and he was fooled”
Thibault, winner of “Koh-Lanta: the cursed tribe”
Ilyesse seemed to be the only one who was very relaxed at first. What was the atmosphere like on the posts?
Total concentration for my part. But I saw that Ilyesse was trying to distract us. By wanting to do that, he was fooled, and he was the one who fell first. I think his youthful enthusiasm played a bad trick on him. It's a shame because he really deserved to go further on the posts. But in the end, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses.
You say that static tests are not your strong point. What do you think caused your downfall?
Finally, on the pole test, we suffer less, we will say, than on other static tests. If we are on track, everything is fine. But on the last cleat, my feet hurt a lot. I have much wider and taller feet than Charlotte, despite the fact that I am shorter than her. And then straight away, I had a loss of balance. I couldn't stand on one foot like she can, since she practices Thai boxing and is used to kicking while standing on one foot. So that played a role!
You were surprised by Charlotte's choice to take you to the final. How did you react?
Yes, very surprised, because I was convinced that they would choose each other. But also very grateful. She could have chosen Ilyesse, and perhaps she would have had a better chance against him, in any case the votes would surely have been closer. But she made a courageous choice, a choice based on the values we both shared. I think she gained the respect of a lot of people because of that. In a way, she won “Koh-Lanta”.
After the post test, there is this moment when the pressure drops. Is it a relief to finish the adventure?
Yes, it was a relief. We knew we only had a few hours to wait, or maybe a day, before we could return to our normal lives, our families, even if we weren't going to get our phones back right away. But it was almost better that way, in the end. What I missed the most was being able to eat normally. For some, it was also the comfort of sleeping normally, of being able to wash. I didn't mind sleeping in the sand, but I couldn't wait to get back to some comfort. Eating, washing, and all that… In short, it was really a relief to be able to find all that again. We loved the adventure, it was great, but we were also so happy it was over! (Laughs)
“They saw me as I am in life. I had just camouflaged my impulsiveness a little”
Thibault, winner of “Koh-Lanta: the cursed tribe”
Then you must go past the other adventurers to answer their questions. Did you have a short speech in mind or did you improvise?
I completely improvised! I'm not someone who expresses myself very well in groups. What I wanted to tell them was that I hadn't forced myself to be someone else during the adventure. I didn't play another game. I had fun feeding them, and that was it. I just hoped they would recognize that, that they would understand. They saw me as I am in life. I had just camouflaged my impulsiveness a little.
And what did this adventure teach you about yourself?
Lots of things. I learned to better manage my emotions, especially my impulsivity. Before, I had a tendency to react too quickly, to get upset over details. “Koh-Lanta” taught me to take a step back, to avoid unnecessary conflicts. And then, I also realized that I could go much further than I thought physically and mentally.
Since your return, has this new philosophy of life had an impact on your daily life?
Yes, completely. I am more relaxed, I enjoy my family and simple moments more. I also changed the way I work. I refocused my agricultural activities on what is truly profitable to free up more time with my daughters. “Koh-Lanta” made me understand that quality of life is what matters most.
What are you going to do with the 100,000 euros?
They will mainly be used for two things. First, a nice trip with my family, probably to Thailand, on the island of Koh-Lanta, for the symbolism. Then, I want to develop an eco-responsible agro-tourism project in Corsica. The idea is to create a table on the farm and perhaps guest rooms, to share our way of life with visitors and promote our land.
You gained a lot of notoriety thanks to “Koh-Lanta”. How do you experience this new visibility?
It's a bit strange at first, but that's normal, it's the game. I also take it as an opportunity. If I can use this notoriety to promote values that are close to my heart, such as the importance of nature and traditions, then that is positive. People are kind, and it's nice to see that they appreciate what I showed in the adventure.
“‘Koh-Lanta’ is an adventure that changes you forever”
Thibault, winner of “Koh-Lanta: the cursed tribe”
Have you remained close to certain adventurers since the end of filming?
Yes, very close even. I have a small core of friends, like Ilyesse, Michel and Gustin, with whom I speak often. Fabrice too, with whom we have a lot in common. And there are also other adventurers who come to Corsica for the New Year.
What assessment do you draw from this exceptional adventure?
It’s an incredible human experience. We were all very different, but we knew how to leverage our diversity to create something unique. “Koh-Lanta” is an adventure that changes you forever. I leave with unforgettable memories, sincere friendships and immense pride.
