Interview with Sportsman of the Year 2007 Georgie Cupidon-“I’ll do my very best to keep the prestigious trophy” |31 January 2008
Sports Nation: How does it feel to retain the Sportsman of the Year title?
Georgie Cupidon: I’m happy I’ve done it because when I was crowned Sportsman of the Year 2006, I said that I would work hard to retain the title. I deserved to win in 2006 and I deserve it again in 2007. This is also the first time that two badminton players win the two prestigious titles in the same season. I believe badminton did well during the 2007 season and I’m proud that Joel (Dubel) won the Young Male Athlete of the Year title, Steve (Malcouzane) finished third overall and Catherina (Paulin) fifth. Friday January 25, 2008, the day of the Sports Awards of the Year 2007 ceremony, will remain an exceptional day in the history of the sport of badminton in Seychelles.
Sports Nation: Can you explain why badminton earned so much success in 2007?
Georgie Cupidon: Badminton players are united. We are like a family. We understand each other and care for each other. We have fun together. But when it comes to training, we give our best and in competitions we give 100% to achieve good results. We cheer on each other and give advice when there is a need to. Our chairman (Michel Bau) is strict and even though we are adults he insists that we keep our feet on the ground and stay focused on what has to be done. Also, I can say that discipline is the key to success. Badminton in Seychelles progressed a lot in 2007 and the man behind this progression is Chinese coach Luo Guochi. I thank him a lot. I’m also grateful to our Seychellois coaches - Calix Francourt and Gerard Bibi. They’ve been doing a great job too.
Sports Nation: I believe your target is to win the Sportsman of the Year title a third time in a row just like former boxer Rival Cadeau (Payet) and Laser sailor Allan Julie?
Georgie Cupidon: (He laughs.) I’m an ambitious person and I like to compete and win. Winning the Sportsman of the Year title a third time in a row is one of my targets now that I have retained it after a first win in 2006. I will do my very best to keep the prestigious trophy, but all will depend on God’s will. Although I compete at the highest level possible and win titles, He guides me all along. I definitely want to win the trophy for a third consecutive year and keep it in my district which is St Louis.
Sports Nation: Forming a winning pair isn’t easy, but how did it happen with you and Juliette?
Georgie Cupidon: Juliette and I are like sister and brother. We’ve been through a lot together – good times and bad times. We’ve travelled a lot together and we train together. At first I didn’t think we could succeed as a mixed doubles duo as we didn’t understand each other on the court. I tried playing with other female partners but it didn’t work. Then we decided that we should try to understand each other and I’m happy we made the right decision. There is a good understanding between her and I on the court. It’s quite tough to explain how we get along well now after not seeing eye to eye in the past.
Sports Nation: What are your targets for the future?
Georgie Cupidon: I want to qualify for the forthcoming Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Competing at the Olympics is every athlete’s dream and I’m no exception. It may sound strange, but I want to win a medal at the Olympics if I qualify together with Juliette in the mixed doubles’ event. It’s going to be a tough but there is no wrong in dreaming.
I hope to be around until the Eighth IOIG which Seychelles is to host in 2011. I would also like to pass on to the young Seychellois badminton players the experience I’ve gathered by participating in top competitions over the years. I believe that a player like Joel (Dubel) is very talented. He has the fighting spirit and is willing to learn the game. I am certain that he is going to be the first men’s singles African champion, just like Juliette and I won the first African Championship’s mixed doubles gold for Seychelles. Who knows, maybe I could switch to coaching.
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Fact File
Name: Georgie Cupidon
Date of birth: November 10, 1981
Debut in badminton: Introduced to the sport by his friend Ron Clarisse in 1993 after Seychelles had hosted the Fourth IOIG
1997: Team event bronze medallist at the All-Africa Junior Championship in Botswana
1999: Mixed doubles gold medallist at the Kenya Open tournament
Team event bronze medallist at the All-Africa Junior Championship in South Africa
Men’s singles gold medallist at the Jeux de la CJSOI in Seychelles
Men’s doubles gold medallist at the Jeux de la CJSOI in Seychelles
Men’s team event gold medallist at the Jeux de la CJSOI in Seychelles
Mixed doubles silver medallist at the Jeux de la CJSOI in Seychelles
2000: Mixed doubles gold medallist at the Kenya Open tournament
2001: Mixed doubles silver medallist at the Mauritius Open
2003: Mixed doubles gold medallist with Juliet Ah-Wan at the Sixth IOIG in Mauritius
Men’s doubles bronze medallist at the Sixth IOIG in Mauritius
Team event bronze medallist at the Sixth IOIG in Mauritius
Mixed team event bronze medallist at the Eighth All-Africa Games in Abuja, Nigeria
2004: Team event bronze medallist at the African Senior Badminton Championship in Mauritius
2005: Mixed doubles silver medallist at the Mauritius Open
2006: Mixed doubles gold medallist with Juliette Ah-Wan at the African Senior Badminton Championship in Algiers, Algeria
Team event bronze medallist at the African Senior Badminton Championship in Algiers, Algeria
Voted Sportsman of the Year
2007: Mixed doubles gold medallist with Juliette Ah-Wan at the African Senior Badminton Championship in Mauritius
Team event gold medallist at the African Senior Badminton Championship in Mauritius
Men’s doubles silver medallist with Steve Malcouzane at the African Senior Badminton Championship in Mauritius
Mixed doubles silver medallist with Juliette Ah-Wan in the Mauritius Open
Mixed doubles gold medallist with Juliette Ah-Wan at the Ninth All-Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria
Team event bronze medallist at the Ninth All-Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria
Voted Sportsman of the Year
Cupidon has also participated in the China Open (in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007), Hong Kong Super Series (in 2007), French Open Super Series (in 2007) and the World Championship (in 2007)