Hi everybody !

« Sport is the ultimate escape from life » says author François HERTEL in The Wandering Canadian.

Every sportsman, whatever his native country, social status or the sport he practices, will find this quote so true.

This is the reason why even if Badminton and Swimming are worlds apart, I totally support the project of the MIRATUS Association.

The MIRATUS Association was created in 1998. Its goal is to fight against the idleness and the lack of opportunity of the children and teenagers of the Chacrinha shanty town in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by teaching them Badminton. The association tries to maintain those kids on the right path by encouraging them to keep going to school and by protecting them from child labour, delinquency and drug use.

Head of the project Sebastiao says : “The Miratus Association was created because we believe we are all equal. We must give a chance to the underprivileged children, whatever the colour of their skin, their nationality, or their religion, so that they can show their potential.”

I particularly cherish this foundation because it gives all these kids the opportunity to fulfill themselves in an hostile environment. Through sport, it provides a beneficial escape from life and changes history.

Last week, during the Junior Panamerican Championship that took place in Guatemala, Miratus won 9 of the 12 Brazilian medals and stood out from the competition with all the gold medals!

So please don’t hesitate to support them and to pay a visit to their website where you can get a glimpse of their projects based on will and their love for Badminton. 

For further information, you can check the website below or write to sebastiao@miratus.org

Personally, I will keep posting news about the association and its athletes.

Until then, I wish you all excellent summer holidays. I for one am going to take a break to recover from this emotionally tiring year, then I’ll get ready for next semester. It already sounds thrilling thanks to all the changes that shake our little world !

Few pictures of the adventure

Here we are!!!

Let's go for our french Trials in the city of Dunkerque (N-E of France)!!!

The plan : 50 and 100m Free and Beijing....

Results

Dear Guests!!!

Welcome on the David MAÎTRE's English website.

Under construction, it will be update completely sooner.

!!!Enjoy your visit!!!

After three weeks of intense general training, the cycle comes to an end with the satisfaction of having given the best of myself. And these few days of muscular and cerebral regenerating are welcome before starting a new training cycle which will lead me next march to the 2008 European Championship in Eindhoven.

In order to begin with this new training period, devoted to specific work, we chose a warmer location. Go west, towards Fort Lauderdale, Florida, one of the Mecca of the international swimming, well known for its climate and its perfect training conditions. Therefore, from Thursday 14 February till Thursday 28 February, I will practice inside the Pine Crest High School in the company of my coach Guy LA ROCCA and of my training mate Hugues LEZÔTRE.

A restricted circle for an expected hard work with the aim of storing as much energy as I can in the sunlight in a Long Course pool and of exhausting myself during each training session in a new environment.