In this fourth episode of the podcast series “Nos Etudiants ont du talent”, Théo Bonnet-Ligeon and Nathan Muscio welcome Léa Janoli. Léa is in her second year of a Master’s degree in Communication, Marketing & Sales Strategies at INSEEC Chambéry. Léa will be talking to us about her recent French boxing title. Come and find out more about her career and her dual project: sport and studies!
Théo BONNET-LIGEON (TBL): Hello everyone! It’s great to be back with you for another episode of Nos Etudiants ont du talent! Today’s episode is a sporting one, with Nathan Muscio still with me.
Nathan MUSCIO (NM): Hello, I’m really pleased to be producing this new episode.
TBL: For this podcast series, which started 2 months ago, we welcome Léa Janoli, the French Boxing Champion. Hello Léa!
Léa Janoli (LJ): Hello to you both, and thank you for seeing me!
A coronation and a lot of work
TBL: It’s a great pleasure. So Léa, recently crowned French boxing champion…
LJ: Exactly, it dates from the beginning of the year, so it’s still very fresh (Laughs)!
TBL: Any immediate reaction? You’d be happy, wouldn’t you?
LJ: Yes, it’s a bit like the culmination of all the work we’ve put in with the coaches. It’s still a bit hard for me to realise… But it’s really great!
TBL: Can you tell us a little about the competition?
LJ: For the final, I met an opponent I’d already played in the qualifiers in Paris, and against whom I’d lost. So there was two things at stake: revenge and the title. It was a great fight, with a lot of commitment! It wasn’t an easy match, but obviously no final is easy. All the work I’d put in over the 3 weeks between Paris and the final paid off… That’s what makes me so happy in the end!
NM: I’m going to tackle a term from someone who knows very little about it. Did you win on points or by KO? How does that work?
LJ: So in boxing we have what’s called the assault: it’s simply a matter of touching, the winner being the one who touches his opponent the most. Then there’s the fight, so we have knockouts. That’s what I did in my category. After that, in our weight category, knockouts are pretty rare. So in the end, we go to the end of the fight and the jury decides on the basis of our hits but also our efficiency!
TBL: Did you ever manage to win by knockout?
LJ: Not yet. Maybe one day, but it’s complicated (Laughs).
Sport & studies
TBL: Alongside this practice, you are a student at the school…
LJ: Exactly. I’m in my final year of an MSc in Marketing, Communication & Business Strategies at INSEEC Chambéry. And I’m also doing a work-study programme with PROFALUX.
TBL: Is everything going well?
LJ: Yes, and I had a great reception when I came back from the French Championships. A round of applause and so on. So I feel really good about this company.
TBL: It’s a great opportunity to have your company on your side!
LJ: It’s very important. I’m really lucky to have PROFALUX behind me! It’s always a plus to be supported by your company… It’s all the more motivating!
NM: You play sport at a high level, you go to school and you work part-time. Isn’t that too complicated?
LJ: It’s an organisation (Laughs). I have very busy weeks… I’ve always done that since I started. I’m getting used to having long days. But it’s clear that it takes a lot of organisation and a certain rigour in your lifestyle.
A passion since the age of 9
TBL: How old were you when you started boxing?
LJ: I started boxing when I was 9… I’ve been boxing for over 13 years now!
TBL: Is this your first title?
LJ: No. So, I was French Youth Champion in 2013 and last year I was also runner-up in the second series of combat.
NM: What’s the next step?
LJ: So this year there are several competitions in assault, as I explained earlier. There’s the French Championships and if I’m French Champion, then the European Championships. As far as the combat discipline is concerned, I’m moving up a category, which is what we call elite A; elite B. So what does this change mean? So what will this change mean in terms of the second series? In the end, I’ll be going from 3 rounds of 2 minutes to 5 rounds of 2 minutes, without a helmet, and the opponents are going to be tough! I might come back with a few more bruises (Laughs).
TBL: It must be motivating to change categories?
LJ: It scares me a bit too (Laughs). But this title also confirms my work and gives me even more confidence. I’ve still got a lot of work to do, but it makes me want to go even further… And why not aim for the European Championships and even the World Championships?
The ultimate goal
NM: If you have a project, a dream…
LJ: To sweep all the titles that exist (Laughs)! So we’re going to say the World Champion title, it’s not unattainable but there’s still work to be done.
TBL: We wish you all the best, and hope we can invite you back with that song in your pocket (Laughs). What can we wish you for the future?
LJ: What’s also important is to get my Masters at the end of the year! And then to continue to progress in boxing to achieve my goals!
NM: How do you see yourself after your Masters?
LJ: At the moment it’s still a bit vague, I don’t know if I’ll continue with the same company as my work-study placement… After that, in the long term, I’d like to find something in sport to combine all my passions.
NM: Well, we wish you all the best for the rest of your professional and personal career!
TBL: Thank you so much for coming to talk to us about your career!
LJ: Thank you both for the invitation, I had a great time!
NM: You can watch the fourth episode with Léa Janoli at the following links:
- YouTube: https: //youtu.be/SQLpILtAWQk
- Spotify: https: //open.spotify.com/episode/3fWrOOm7bfk2eAastmyEbQ?si=691026ad73204a60