Mathieu Belloir

Injuries	In late 2020 he had an accident in which his skate sliced through the malleolus bone in his right ankle. He required surgery and was out for six weeks. (Journal Rennes Sport, 01 Jun 2021; actu.fr, 01 Mar 2021; Instagram profile, 17 Dec 2020; Athlete, 13 Feb 2022) In 2018 he spent two months recovering from a cut to his lower leg and thigh sustained while skating. (Athlete, 13 Feb 2022) In January 2016 he required 50 stitches in his right knee after falling while training in Germany. (ouest-france.fr, 17 Jun 2018)
Other sports	He represented France in roller speed skating at the 2018 World Championships in Arnhem, Netherlands, where he competed in the road marathon. (SportsDeskOnline, 26 Oct 2022)
Famous relatives	His younger brother Martin represented France in speed skating at the 2022 World Junior Championships in Innsbruck, Austria, and has also competed internationally in roller speed skating. His cousin Germain Deschamps represented France in speed skating at the 2022 World Junior Championships in Innsbruck, Austria, and competed in roller speed skating at the 2019 World Roller Games in Barcelona, Spain. (SportsDeskOnline, 26 Oct 2022; ouest-france.fr, 04 Nov 2021, 19 Feb 2018)

Reason for choosing this sport	His mother Sabrina, a former high-level inline skater, oversaw a skating club so he and his brothers would accompany her to training sessions. Eventually he began training in speed skating as well as inline skating.
When and where did you begin this sport?	He first tried skating at age two in Saint-Malo, France. Later, he tried speed skating in 2016 at age 16 while on holiday in Leeuwarden, Netherlands.

Other information

BLOOD CONDITION He has haemophilia, a condition that affects the body's ability to make blood clots. He competed with special clothing when he was younger in case he fell and cut himself while racing. "I managed to convince my doctor to let me participate, subject to me wearing protection. This condition stopped me from doing the sport on a number of occasions at school and elsewhere. All coaches and teachers were frightened about me being injured. But I never quit. I missed out at the beginning but once I was allowed to participate I felt very good on my skates. I have to be thankful to coach Benoit Guillet, who let me practise the sport when others would not. Everything I have experienced so far is mainly because of him." (Journal Rennes Sport, 01 Jun 2021; ouest-france.fr, 17 Jun 2018; LinkedIn profile, 11 Oct 2023) FURTHER EDUCATION He has studied for a master's degree in sports training at the Grenoble Alpes University in France. (LinkedIn profile, 11 Oct 2023)

www.facebook.com/mathieu.belloir.75

Most influential person in career

French speed skater Alexis Contin. "He comes from Saint-Malo, like me, and roller speed skating was his original sport before transitioning to ice, like me. I have learned a lot from him and continue to do so." (Athlete, 13 Feb 2022)

Club / Team

Association Choletais de Patinage sur Glace [ACPG]: Cholet, FRA

Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs	"I have a habit of verifying multiple times that my suit and skates are closed up tight and that my gloves are well adjusted." (Athlete, 13 Feb 2022)
Memorable sporting achievement	"When I skated under 1 minute 48 seconds for the first time in the 1500m. It was a competition for World Cup selection in October 2021 and I had to get under 1 minute 50 seconds. For several years I'd stagnated around 1 minute 52 seconds, so it gave me a huge boost moving forward." (Athlete, 13 Feb 2022)
Hero / Idol	Dutch cyclist Mathieu Van Der Poel, French speed skater Alexis Contin. (Athlete, 13 Feb 2022)
Ambitions	To become world champion and to win medals at the Olympic Winter Games. (Athlete, 15 Nov 2023)

Name of coach

Tristan Loy [personal]

Sporting philosophy / motto	"Work always pays." (Athlete, 15 Nov 2023)
Hobbies	Fishing. (Athlete, 15 Nov 2023)