Par Editorial Louviers
Published on 28 Mar 24 at 5:11 p.m. See my news Follow La Dépêche Louviers
Between his native Normandy and the Pyrénées-Orientales, Simon Colboc’s career has always been placed under the good auspices of baseball. Originally from Damps in Eure, he was 10 years old when he visited his uncle living in Seattle in the United States. There he discovered the American way of life and especially baseball.
First steps with the Wallabies
Back in France, he looked for a club to play in and ended up choosing Louviers. He perfectly remembers his first training with the Wallabies: “I was put in the field to catch balls. I didn’t know how to do it yet and I took a bullet in the knee.”
Instead of becoming discouraged, Simon persevered, improved and ended up attracting the attention of a certain Sylvain Virey, first coordinator of the Pôle France Rouen, whose first class was recruited in 1997. Simon Colboc was then part of the adventure. alongside Boris Marche, Jérôme Dussart or Jordan Bert, another Wallabies (brother of Joris Bert). “With these guys, I witnessed the rise of Norman baseball,” Simon proudly asserts.
Simon Colboc today, in the colors of the Phénix de Perpignan, is the coach of the 12U team of the Occitanie League. ©Phoenix
Champion of France
From there, the path to the top level is clear. In 2003, at the age of 19, it was his consecration. He became both French champion with the N1 of Rouen and European champion with the French team. It is then time for him to face the best. He put his journalism studies at the Paris Journalists Training Center (CFJ) on hold and joined the baseball team at Bellevue College in the United States.
For a year, he perfected his pitch which rocketed at 133 km/h, learned English, attended all the Seattle Mariners MLB games and discovered the world:
I didn’t go there with the idea of becoming pro and being selected in MLB. I knew that the speed of my throws, although fast, was not enough. To progress, my coach forced me to eat four meals a day and to follow intensive weight training sessions.
Simon Colboc
After a year, Simon returned to France with seven kilos of extra muscle and a razor-sharp competitive spirit. Until 2009, he will continue to win French Champion titles with Rouen. His spin fastballs work wonders on the Rouen mound.
Simon Colboc (6th top from left) and his 15U teammates with the Wallabies in 1997. On his right, his friend Jordan Bert (the brother of Joris Bert) with whom he will debut the first promotion of the Pôle France de Rouen . ©Wallabies
Career as a journalist
Having become a father, this time he put baseball on hold to devote himself to his family and journalism. He leaves Normandy and will not return. First a sports journalist in Pau for France Bleu Béarn, he settled permanently at the foot of the Pyrenees, in Perpignan.
Videos: currently on Actu
Since 2015, he has presented information for the France Bleu Roussillon morning show. But baseball is stronger than him, he’s coming back! No more blue of the Wallabies or white of the Huskies, Simon Colboc has turned to red and yellow, that of the Phénix of Perpignan. If he still has the resources to throw strikes with the Senior D3 team, he is also the coach of the club’s 12U team and that of the Occitanie League team in this category.
An experience that completely transforms our man. Trained and conditioned to win from the age of 13, he must adapt to children who just want to have fun.
On the field I was not a softy and I could be bad in defeat. I went to the field like you go to a boxing ring. In contact with young people, I was forced to deconstruct myself, to forget what I had learned in order to train them correctly.
Simon Colboc
“I will always be a Wallabies”
And added: “With young people, we must favor fun activities and avoid overly routine training which ends up boring them. You have to raise the stakes and above all you have to strike! All the kids come to baseball to hit home runs, that’s what’s fun. A good hitter will always have his place on the field. »
Mickaël Cerda, his former teammate and current manager of D2 Rouen confirms this: “He is a good, intelligent and passionate player with whom I loved playing. Today he is an excellent coach. The Phénix de Perpignan are very lucky to have him. »
But Simon has not forgotten Normandy or the Wallabies, his favorite club, whose journey he continues to follow via the networks: “It pleases me that Louviers is performing well. I don’t forget where I come from, it’s a source of pride. Deep down, I will always be a Wallabies.”
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2024-03-28 16:15:57
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