Stephen Parez-Edo Martin, multi-talented athlete

Published

May 4, 2024

Stephen Parez-Edo Martin is a rugby sevens player. He plays as a fly-half for the French national team. A member of the French national team for the sport's first participation at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016, and well on his way to being among the French national team's 2024 squad, he is one of the most experienced players on the national team.

At only 29 years old (born on 1^er August 1994) he already has a glorious record in the world of rugby sevens: twice winner of the Seven's Grand Prix Series (equivalent to the European championship in rugby) and several times medalist on the world circuit. His team just won the World Cup in Los Angeles on March 3rd, beating Great Britain in the final (21-0), and took the silver medal at the Hong Kong World Cup a month later. We had the pleasure of meeting Stephen Parez-Edo Martin in top form before tackling the final deadlines that will lead the Blues to the Olympic Games this summer.

Interview with Stephen Parez-Edo Martin at the gourmet restaurant Agape in Paris

How did he decide?buté rugby at seven?
Stephen started playing rugby at the French high school in Madrid at the age of 6. He chose rugby sevens from the sports on offer.

What does he think are the values of this sport? ?
There are many, but he will remember the main ones: brotherhood, solidarity, work, and always giving the best of oneself.

How is he preparing for the Olympics?
The French national team meets in several locations for collective preparation: the CNR in Marcoussis, the INSEP in Vincennes, and the Cap Breton sports center. Training sessions take place every morning and afternoon and are divided into the following areas: strength training, technique and tactics, endurance, and tempo control to better manage fatigue during key moments of the game.
The team also works with a Moulin Rouge dancer to learn how to focus on technical movements and reproduce them with coordination on the field.

In the meantime, there is no need to worry about it. ”

Does he have any advice for starting out in rugby? ?
The most difficult and yet the most important thing is to accept criticism. It can sometimes be hurtful, but it allows you to question yourself in order to move forward and improve.

How does he feel after your victory at Los Angeles ?
Although there's already a taste of the Olympics as the world's best teams are gathered, victory at the World Cup in Los Angeles is just the beginning. There's still a long way to go. Stephen and the Blues are currently focused on the World Series before turning their full attention to the Games.

How does he prepare for his aftermath?s carrièsporty re ?
Holder of a vocational certificate in cooking, he plans to set up a restaurant or a guest house with a table in order to combine pleasure and work, "so that it is as pleasant and natural as possible."

For him, the world of cooking is very similar to high-level sports like rugby, where we find the notions of sharing and the pleasure of being together.

Outside of rugby, Stephen is passionate about music and cinema. But his favorite hobby remains cooking. The skills he's developed in the kitchen allow him to maintain a healthy and balanced diet and provide him with all the nutritional benefits he needs for his high-level practice.

In a chef's kitchen

During our interview, we organized a 4-handed culinary performance in the Agapé restaurant with its charismatic Japanese chef Yoshi Nagato.

A self-made man, chef Yoshi Nagato trained at the greatest restaurants such as Château Joël Robuchon in Tokyo, L'Epicure at the Bristol, L'Ecrin at the Crillon, and Le Cinq at the Georges V...

The chef graciously accepted our request and demonstrated his talent and ability to share his expertise by creating a highly gourmet dish with crayfish and caviar with Stephen: a dish with melting salty flavors.