Thierry Omeyer: "The qualities I had as a goalkeeper help me a lot in padel"

Former iconic goalkeeper of the French handball team , Thierry Omeyer has become, over the years, a well-known face on padel courts. Present during the Head Padel Tennis Paris, where many sports personalities gathered with rackets in hand, the two-time Olympic champion returned to Padel Magazine on his growing passion for the discipline.

Since the end of his professional career in 2019, Thierry Omeyer never really left the courts. The handball simply gave way to a padel racket .

A transition he is experiencing with great difficulty. enthusiasm .

"It's true that I love playing padel. It's a great sport where I have a blast, where I enjoy myself and which also allows me to expend energy, all in a very good atmosphere. There's a really good spirit in padel, I like that."

Beyond the sporting aspect, it's above all this conviviality that appeals to the former French international. A mindset that is regularly found during the many events bringing together former professional athletes, all eager to continue sharing moments of competition… without losing the pleasure of the game .

Man in a white athletic shirt sits on a chair in front of a black sponsor backdrop at an event.

From handball goalkeeper to padel player

If he makes progress in this new discipline, Thierry Omeyer acknowledges that his immense experience His handball skills still serve him well on the padel courts.

The parallel is, in fact, quite natural.

The developed reflexes Having spent nearly twenty years at the highest level, the ability to read trajectories and remain calm in moments of pressure are now essential skills. real assets on a padel court.

"I think that having been a goalkeeper in handball helps me a lot, especially with volleys, for reflexes, to be able to defend well and block well, whether it's the bajada"Smash shots, or viboras. So I think the qualities I had as a goalkeeper help me a lot."

A statement that perfectly illustrates the existing footbridges between certain disciplines, particularly when the qualities of playing the game and coordination play an important role.

Man in a cap lunges to hit a padel ball with a paddle on an outdoor court.

Defend before you attack

In a previous interview given to Padel Magazine, Thierry Omeyer already explained the importance of the lob in modern padel.

This time, the former goalkeeper elaborates further on his game vision .

If you lob He believes it remains an essential shot to regain the net; he admits to having developed a particular taste for another iconic shot in padel.

"The lob is really a shot you have to master to try and regain the net, to push your opponents back. What I like about it today is the..." bajada"It's true, it's a move I really appreciate."

But even more than the winning shots, it's the defensive rigor which guides his playing style.

"I also really love defending because I think it's the foundation of padel and trying to make as few mistakes as possible. That's what wins matches because finishing points, the higher the level, the more I realize how complicated it is."

A philosophy which inevitably brings to mind the person he was as a goalkeeper.

There is still significant room for improvement

Despite his experience and level of play, Thierry Omeyer believes he still has something to offer. several areas for progress .

The main thing? Dare more when he is at the net.

"Perhaps I need to be a little more aggressive with my finishing when I'm at the net. It's true that I tend to play it safe to avoid making mistakes. And sometimes, I need to be a little more aggressive to finish points."

A lucid analysis that also shows how padel is a balance sport , where the patience must sometimes give way to initiative.

Four people stand on a padel court behind a net, each holding a perforated paddle and smiling at the camera.

Padel, the ideal playing field for former champions

For several years now, padel courts have been attracting more and more former professional athletes : handball players, football players, tennis players.

For Thierry Omeyer, this diversity constitutes one of the great wealth discipline.

"What's great about this sport is that there are many former athletes from different disciplines who play it. It allows us all to come together around a common sport where we have a blast. If we play against footballers in football, we're obviously going to be at a disadvantage. If they come to handball, they're going to be at a disadvantage."

This observation probably explains why the Padel continues to attract many former champions Everyone finds an element of competition there, while evolving in a more accessible environment and more balanced than his original discipline.

For Thierry Omeyer, the enjoyment remains undiminished. And listening to him, the potential for improvement is there too. Enough to imagine seeing him for a long time to come. racket in hand on the padel courts.