Paul Rouget, Media365: published on Thursday February 02, 2023 at 8:22 p.m.
The biggest winner in French badminton, Brice Leverdez (36) has announced the imminent end of his career, especially because of his painful knees.
His knees are “tired”. Crowned champion of France nine times, from 2008 to 2015 and in 2019, Brice Leverdez (36) announced that he would soon end his career, and to have surgery on the medial meniscus of his right knee so that he can “still enjoy life with a 100% functional body”. Best tricolor player in history in singles, the native of La Garenne-Colombes will have won a total of 13 international titles, and won a bronze medal at the 2018 European Championships and a silver medal the following year at the European Games. . He can also claim to have twice beaten the legendary Malaysian player Lee Chong Wei, when he was world number one.
“I’m handing over to a promising young generation”
“It is with great emotion that I post this message”, declared in a voice message published on Facebook the one who today occupies the 40th rank in the world and had left the last Olympics in the group stage. “I will end my career as a badminton player in the coming months. This sport that has given me so much, my passion for so many years. I want to put an end to this beautiful trip because my knees are tired from having endured the repetition of incessant shocks inflicted by the only man. It’s time for me to be wise so that I can still enjoy life with a 100% functional body. I am going to have surgery on the medial meniscus of my right knee in the coming months and try not to aggravate my cartilage cracks in both knees while I wait. In addition, I am handing over to a promising young generation for French badminton. This 25-year adventure as a player in this exciting sport will forever be engraved in my heart and in my memories. Through meetings, travels, victories and defeats, there are so many things to say about this journey strewn with pitfalls but also and above all with happiness.” Leverdez also thanked his former clubs, opponents, partners, supporters and his family, also addressing a “special mention” to his historic coach, Bertrand Gallet : “He has been my coach for 18 years, my mentor and my guide, and the one who allowed me to understand what badminton was, with his unique philosophy.”
