This season was punctuated by the return of two heroes, what was your reaction when you discovered Frédéric and Ugo?
Thibault : It was an immense joy, I didn't expect it at all. They are two adventurers that I admired enormously, especially Ugo who was my idol. It was a great pride to compete alongside them.
“I have no regrets in terms of strategy.”
Your admiration for Ugo did not prevent you from voting against him just before the orienteering race. Did you have any qualms?
Yes, but I accept my choice. I felt sorry for “the man” who had wonderful values, but I have no regrets in terms of strategy. I wanted to take as many Yellows as possible to the final phase, and if Ugo reached the orientation, it was 100% sure that he would have been at the posts. All the yellows agreed with this strategy, including Ilyesse. He tried to save him from elimination, but it suited him well for the future.
You didn't define yourself as a strategist, did you finally get a taste for it?
I wouldn't say that, because I prefer to let others do the cleaning (laughs), however, at a certain point, it became a necessity to develop plans to hope to go further in the adventure. Especially after the elimination of Frédéric who guided us in terms of strategy.
Adventurers always talk about orientation as being the worst test… Do you agree?
No way ! I was impatiently waiting for it. I knew that I was going to stand out and create a surprise, in fact no one wanted to come to my search area, they knew that it was ruined in advance and that I was going to find the dagger (laughs). Since we were little, in Corsica, we have lived in the maquis, in the forest… finding our way in nature with the mountains, the trees, it's our hobby. It helped me a lot.
“Charlotte would have had a better chance of winning Koh-Lanta against Ilyesse”
In what state of mind did you approach the pole test?
Already I was very proud and happy to participate alongside two ex-Yellows. I had no choice but to win, because I was convinced that Ilyesse and Charlotte would choose each other to go to the final.
Charlotte's decision was therefore a nice surprise!
Yes, a total surprise! I found her choice honorable, because it was a huge risk for her. I think she would have had a better chance of winning Koh-Lanta against Ilyesse.
If you had won the poles, would you really have chosen the second as you had proposed to Charlotte and Ilyesse before the event?
I was preparing the ground, I knew that it was not a test for me and that it was going to be difficult to beat Charlotte, but I could aim for second place. But given that they refused to take the second by default, I left myself the option of choosing Ilyesse who was my ally throughout the adventure.
Charlotte won more individual events, but you were always unanimous among your comrades, in terms of survival… Do you think that ultimately Koh-Lanta can also be won on the social aspect?
Yes and it's a first in this game. I'm happy to show that Koh-Lanta is also a human adventure and that by being kind to others, we can be rewarded. I have been natural, I have not calculated anything like in life, and the people who love me return it to me.
Were you afraid of finding yourself in front of the final jury?
Yes, I had a lot of apprehensions, to see how they were going to judge me… But I was a little reassured by the fact of never having had any ballots against me during the councils… And it's nice, to see that they were very grateful for what I was able to bring to the camp. They were very kind.
How did the reunion with all the adventurers go on the evening of the finale?
Superb! I didn't feel any tension, everything went well. We celebrated together last night. It really was a great season full of humanity.
“I think I’m deserving.”
Was this victory a surprise for you?
I thought I had a good chance of winning, but no certainty. I had a huge bout of stress, during the final, my hands were sweaty…
What are you going to do with the 100,000 euros?
I'm going to take a nice trip to Thailand with my family, my daughters, my brother and his children, my mother… And above all invest in agro-tourism in Corsica. Today, tourists love to go to places of hospitality directly with farmers and I would like to diversify into that, to be a little more profitable, and have a better living environment.
“If I had won like that, it would have been very complicated for me in my region”
What assessment do you make of your journey?
I have no regrets, I am proud of my journey. I did my Koh-Lanta the way I dreamed of doing it. As a Corsican, it was impossible for me to betray and stick knives in my back, it's something that is very frowned upon here! If I had won that way, it would have been very complicated for me in my region.
What do you want to say to those who believe that Ilyesse deserved to win this season?
People forget that Koh-Lanta is not just a game of challenges. I was an adventurer of survival rather than trials, unlike Ilyesse. Charlotte was quite complete… everyone had their skills, and everyone has an opinion on who they want to see win. I believe that I am deserving and this is also the opinion of my comrades, you just have to see their votes.
