TEXAS WILL BE FOR ANOTHER TIME: TRAVEL FIT SPORTS REVIEW OF 2024
Updated: Oct 31
As I write these lines, I should be in Fort Worth, sitting in the media press box of TCU's Amon G. Carter Stadium, covering the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl between the Navy Midshipmen and the Oklahoma Sooners. The rest of my brief trip to Texas was shaping up to be just as exciting, as I was supposed to have the opportunity to watch, for the last time in Colorado Buffaloes colors, the Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and his partner, also a projected first-round pick in the next NFL draft, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, during the Alamo Bowl against BYU.
Severe storm risks, flooding, heavy fog, 400 delayed flights, and more than a hundred cancellations... The Dallas-Fort Worth airport seemed like the last place to be on this December 26th morning. I had to face the harsh reality that, unfortunately, this Texas trip would not happen and that my visit to Dallas would have to be postponed to a later date.
So, in this final stretch of the year, I take this opportunity to reflect on the journey and the moments that have marked the beginnings of Travel Fit Sports, revisiting some key events from this year full of games, travels, and emotions.
It all started when I created Travel Fit Magazine in early 2024. The first online edition was released on February 1st, focusing on Panama. I then began reaching out to athletes and coaches from various disciplines to ask them questions. Tahitian surfer Teiva Joyeux, a former pro sponsored by Quiksilver, and Kader Touati, a physical trainer for athletes and FIFA, were among the first to trust me for the April edition focused on Tahiti. Then came contributions from Raph Delfour, a former pro snowboarder and manager at Rip Curl, professional basketball player Samuta Avea, and NCAA wide receiver Nick Cenacle from the University of Hawaii for the edition dedicated to the archipelago.
Tarik Abdul-Wahad, the first French player to be drafted in the NBA, took the time and had the kindness to meet with me on Zoom to discuss his career. Similarly, Marc Angelo-Soumah, general manager of the Paris Musketeers and a former player who attended the Cleveland Browns NFL camp, shared his experiences. In June, it was the turn of Nadia Doucouré, a Frenchwoman with an exceptional career that led her to become the first woman in the Canadian Football League (CFL) to join a coaching staff, and Lemar Durant, a former star wide receiver for the BC Lions and Calgary Stampeders. Rob Williams, a coach specializing in quarterback training with clients in college football, the CFL, and the NFL, also joined this growing list. I savor each experience and exchange with these athletes and coaches as if it were the last.
My first in-person meeting and interview took place in a hotel lounge in Seattle with Lou Lopez-Senechal, the first Franco-Mexican to be drafted into the WNBA. We chatted casually just before she joined her Dallas Wings team for their game against the Seattle Storm. That day, I was on the sidelines because, in mid-May, the Seattle Storm’s communications manager granted me my first media passes (credentials) to cover the WNBA season.
Game after game, I submitted my requests, which were approved. Each week (sometimes twice a week), I traveled the 460 km round trip between Vancouver, where I live, and Seattle to "build" my credibility and gain experience. After a few games, I began interviewing Storm players before the games while continuing to write my articles. Seeking to expand my coverage, I applied to other teams and eventually traveled to Las Vegas for Aces games and Los Angeles for games at the Krypto.com Arena, home of the Lakers and Sparks.
At the end of this summer, I concluded the WNBA season in Seattle in the best possible way by interviewing (in French) Gabby Williams, a Franco-American who had just won a silver medal at the Paris Olympics.
Fifteen WNBA games covered later, I thought the 2024 "pro" coverage season for Travel Fit Sports was over. However, I still attempted multiple times to obtain a media pass for the Seattle Huskies college football team.
I finally obtained the coveted pass for their game at Lumen Field (the NFL Seahawks’ stadium) against their state rivals, the Washington State Cougars. It was my first step onto this iconic field, watching the warm-ups up close. After covering the game from the press box, I was authorized to spend the last five minutes on the sidelines, to my great delight.
This match sparked a new turning point for me (the first being when I received the Storm’s email for my media pass), motivating me to continue covering college football for the rest of the season.
I kept submitting weekly media pass requests to the Huskies, who approved them, allowing me to cover their remaining home games (against Northwestern, USC, Michigan, and UCLA). I also applied to cover games at other universities to discover new stadiums, athletes, and infrastructures, and to continue gaining experience to improve my skills and the quality of my content.
This journey took me to the Universities of Hawaii, Michigan, Michigan State, Washington State, USC, UCLA, and finally Notre Dame. To say that this 2024 season, filled with WNBA and college football games, was an extraordinary experience full of learning and unforgettable moments would not do justice to what I have lived.
Were things easy and obvious? Absolutely not. Since May, it has required sacrifices, moments of solitude, and occasional misunderstandings. I’ve lost count of the three-hour nights, 20-hour round trips over two days, the thousands of kilometers traveled, and the money invested to make things possible and achieve a dream I wouldn’t have dared to dream.
What can I say about the NFL experience the Seattle Seahawks granted me? In September, building on my WNBA experience, I had the opportunity to cover the game between the Seahawks and the Miami Dolphins. I was also able to return twice to the Seahawks’ press box to cover games against the Buffalo Bills and, last week, against the Minnesota Vikings. It was simply indescribable to find myself in such a privileged position.
This eventful 2024, during which I spent more weekends in stadiums and arenas than outside (35 games, including 30 as media), would not have been possible without the athletes I interviewed, the team communications managers who trusted me and gave me incredible opportunities, the support of my family, friends, and clients (I’m primarily a fitness coach) during moments of doubt.
As I write this, I may not be in Texas, but it gives me a moment to reflect on this memorable year, breathe, and think about what worked, what I can improve for the future, and how to prepare for 2025. To conclude, I’m not trying to deliver cliché inspiration but simply to say this to anyone reading this article: thank you immensely. Also, believe me, even if some things seem out of reach, and some dreams seem too big, with willpower, hard work, and
perseverance, so much can be achieved, and doors that once seemed firmly closed can open.
Travel Fit Sports will continue to grow, give visibility to sports, athletes, and teams that trust me, and deliver top-quality content and information to the Francophone audience, which I will focus on even more next year.
Once again, thank you to everyone who made this exceptional media year for Travel Fit Sports possible. Wishing you wonderful holidays, and I look forward to sharing more sports content starting in January!
