Mady Sow, the 1.90-meter French badminton prospect from Montreuil, has left nothing to chance in his preparation for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, sharpening his body and his mind in a bid for gold, Olympics.com reported.
The France youth international has drawn frequent comparisons to the country’s senior stars โ Christo Popov, the new world No. 1, and Alex Lanier, the reigning world champion โ and his coach says those parallels are earned. “There are a lot of similarities between Mady, Christo Popov and Alex Lanier,” said Bertrand Louvet, head of France’s U15 and U17 badminton teams. “Mady asks me questions about how they did things.”
A Growth Spurt Forced a New Approach
Sow’s path to the top has not been smooth. Standing 1.90 meters, he went through a significant growth spurt that triggered several injuries early in his career. Rather than push through, he rebuilt his body. “To keep progressing, I had to take care of that,” he told Olympics.com. “I did a full re-athletization program, with a specific plan for my size. That’s why this year I haven’t had any injuries that stopped my progress.”
The work paid off: he says he has learned to be professional in his warm-up, recovery and preparation. “I’m really happy that it’s serving me today,” he said.
Training Split Nears 50-50
Louvet confirmed the emphasis on physical conditioning. “We try to get close to a 50-50 split between physical preparation and badminton, to avoid injuries, because a career is long,” he said. Badminton’s lateral movements can strain the back, he noted, so the program focuses on core work for the deep muscles along with strengthening of the lower and upper limbs.
A Coach’s Dream Pupil
Beyond the physical work, Louvet sees a player with the right temperament for the biggest stage. “He’s a young player who isn’t afraid of the opponent, who loves the game and is drawn to challenge and competition,” he said. “For a coach, it’s quite easy to challenge him, more than other players. He has something extra.”
Off the court, the Montreuil native also stands out. “He’s radiant, appealing, very kind and very respectful,” Louvet said. “In a group setting, that’s great for a coach.”
What Dakar 2026 Means for Sow
The Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, give Sow his first shot at an Olympic-stage medal at the youth level. France’s federation has invested in its teenage pipeline, and Louvet’s program has produced the senior stars Sow now studies.
The next confirmed checkpoint on Sow’s calendar is the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, where his preparation will be tested against the best young players in the world.
Worth a look
