Yohann Ndoye Brouard On Promoting Diversity And Overcoming Tough Challenges To Triumph

by Liz Byrnes - Europe Correspondent

05 October 2022, 12:20am

Yohann Ndoye Brouard On Promoting Diversity And Overcoming Tough Challenges To Triumph

Yohann Ndoye Brouard found out first-hand how he can be a source of inspiration to young children of color shortly after being crowned European champion.

Ndoye Brouard won the 200-meter backstroke in Rome, leaving the Foro Italico with a further silver in the medley relay and 100 backstroke bronze.

On his return to France, the 21-year-old took part in the ‘Nageur et Citoyen’ (Swimmer and Citizen) program in which children from low-income backgrounds are taught to swim. Many are from different cultures, including black and those with an Arabic background, and Ndoye Brouard – who has dual heritage with a Senegalese father, Axel, and French mother, Vanessa, – told Swimming World:

“At first they don’t know me because they are not watching swimming but then when other people are telling them that I am a champion, I won at the Europeans, there are like stars in their eyes.

“I think it’s good for them to have someone like this.”

He was able to see in action the value of passing on his skills and experience in the water to benefit and inspire those children.

Yohann Ndoye Brouard: Photo Courtesy: Foto Gian Mattia D’Alberto – LaPresse

He said:

“When I was talking to them I get the feeling swimming is not the most hyped sport. They prefer to play football, they prefer to play basketball – telling their friends they are going to the swimming pool is not the best thing!

“At first they are really shy but then when they are learning how to swim, they are learning that they can save their lives so if they are going to the sea in the summer, they are not drowning.

“They are learning that swimming is cool and after all this they are taking more lessons and they are coming back to the pool so it is really cool for me to inspire them.”

Ndoye Brouard says he has not experienced racism within swimming and welcomes what he sees as increasing diversity within the sport, which he hopes in turn will encourage more black children to get involved.

“I started watching a lot of the swimming in 2015 and at this time I think it was only Mehdy Metella of the French team and Simone Manuel who were black and really strong.

“But now I think there are a lot more black people – like Shaine Casas, Natalie Hinds, me, (my sister) Maty, Simone is back, Joshua Liendo – so there are good, good black people in swimming.

“And they are proving they can swim fast and it’s not a question of color. It is good and I think the more black swimmers that swim, the more black children will go to the swimming.

“I think it’s a motivation for them to see black people swimming so it’s really good and I hope there will be more of us.”

Overcoming Hurdles En-Route To Success

Despite being only 21, Ndoye Brouard has already had his fair share of obstacles to negotiate on the senior stage.

On his Olympic debut at Tokyo 2021, he was DQd from the 100 back after crashing into the wall at the halfway point and coming to a complete stop.

He tried to turn around and get going again, but he pushed off on his stomach and was disqualified.

Yohann Ndoye Brouard: Photo Courtesy: Gian Mattia D’Alberto – LaPresse

He switched off his phone “because Twitter was on fire” and instead focused on the 200 where he finished ninth in the semifinals, 0.14 off the final.

It soon emerged he has a condition called keratoconus in both eyes which – along with the floodlights at the pool and the waves before the turn – meant he couldn’t see the flags.

He wasn’t able to receive surgery before the Olympics because of the timing of the European Championships, his school exams and the Games.

Then came the 2022 Europeans and the 200 back semis for which he had qualified first.

But along came another obstacle in the form of a broken starting ledge which saw him stranded at the start.

Rather than panic, he recalled a similar incident involving Simone Sabbioni at the 2019 FINA World Championships after which the Italian was given the opportunity to swim.

Ndoye Brouard was granted a time trial and he prepared with his coach Michel Chrétien and his physio and warmed up once more before making his way to the call room at 740pm with his solo swim scheduled for 8pm.

However, the medal ceremonies for the women’s 800 free and mixed medley relay ran over, meaning Ndoye Brouard didn’t race until 8:30 pm.

He said:

“I had to not overthink because I was a bit nervous, I was alone in the call room.

“I had my music, I was texting my mother and my friends so it was okay.”

His mother Vanessa was Ndoye Brouard’s coach for 10 years at Annecy before he went to the national centre at Font Romeu and on to Paris in 2018 to be guided by Chrétien.

His mother was initially nervous, fearing he wouldn’t be able to swim again.

“When she knew that I can race again, it was okay,” he said.

“Then we talked about the race: how I can go in the first 50, the stroke rate, my speed at the 100 – I speak of that with her.

“My coach was the same thing and it was okay because she is in the same spirit as my trainer – they think the same way.

“I wanted to do a great race so I make all the things I can do and I went 1:56.39 – my second best time. It was very good mentally for me the next day for the final: I was ready for the final after this.”

A Family Affair As He Stands Atop The Podium

Ndoye Brouard’s time saw him qualify second behind Roman Mityukov although some self-doubt started to creep in.

He watched his solo swim once more to calm his nerves, finding reassurance in having gone 1:56.3 despite having swum alone, and challenged himself to swim at the same level once more and to give everything on the last 50.

Mityukov led the way going into the 150 but a huge turn saw Ndoye Brouard emerge with a clear lead and he went on to claim gold, slicing 0.48 off his French record as he stopped the clock at 1:55.62.

Yohann Ndoye Brouard: Photo Courtesy: Gian Mattia D’Alberto – LaPresse

He recalled:

“I think the semi-final was harder than the final. It was easy for me, the final: it was less nervous, it was painless, it didn’t hurt at all.

“At the 150 I was sure I could win and then I didn’t feel anything in the last 50; I could celebrate in my head in the last 50, it was amazing.”

And for the first time on the senior stage, Ndoye Brouard stood at the top of the podium with his mother in the crowd along with his grandmother and aunt – all of whom work at the club in Annecy where he started out – plus his uncle.

He said:

“It was the first time I heard the national anthem; it was great.

“My mother was in the crowd, my grandmother, my aunt and uncle, everybody was in this pool.

“So when I sang the national anthem I had goosebumps – it was a good feeling and the first time I felt this – it was so good.

“I was very proud of myself that I had actually won – I was sure I could but it was not easy to make it so I was very proud of myself and the work I put in during this year.”

Those experiences in Tokyo and Rome have imparted some valuable knowledge and experience as he looks ahead to a home Games at Paris 2024.

He said:

“When you go through these things I think it is easier to approach the competition; I am not nervous now, I know I can deal with everything.

“It is a lot of experience that I take so it is easier now for me to go in competition and I think I will be ready for Paris.”

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