“I have been involved in judo for 38 years or so. I did not decide this; actually my father told me once to go to judo and so I went. The answer was always ‘yes dad!’ I was in French Guyana then.
Fast forward some years; I was nominated to a sport programme in France, adjusted to account for both education and judo. I was not a big champion but I enjoyed judo and also wanted to have a good education. It was a great opportunity to get into a good school in France. My focus then was education, which has remained a priority for me throughout my life. I was in the same programme and school as Dany Fernandes and Christophe Massina, both of whom went on to become national coaches in France.
I was not searching for a career as an athlete but while at university, having stayed in judo throughout, I tried something new: refereeing. I didn’t know much about it then but I stayed. After some time and a lot of work arrive here in Baku, my second world championship as a referee.
I love judo. I love the passion we find on the mat. I love my friends, my colleagues and the opportunity to travel and be part of an organisation which also values education in both academic and moral aspects.”
What has driven Olivier Desroses to stay in the sport for so long, almost four decades?
“The point is that at the end of my life I will not be a doctor or a scientist, someone curing tough things or saving lives, so what will I have done that is special? I worked to be as good at this as possible. It is never simple to travel as we do and to work at this level, balancing family and finance but we find a way to live and to be in an environment that celebrates both excellence and effort.”
On day one of the Baku World Championships, Olivier was selected to officiate in the final block. Only three referees will have the extra honour each day. “It is a good thing; I am happy to have been selected for this first final block but a world championship is 8 days long and so I must only see it as a good start. Every day can be different but we take each experience and use it to fuel improvement and consistency.
I have been on the World Judo Tour since 2017 and I know that all of us will make mistakes. We try to minimise them, just like the athletes do. My role is to ensure the athletes achieve what they deserve; we must be at the same level as them but on our terms.”
Olivier Desroses will continue to do his best, in Baku and beyond, his love of judo and education always driving him forward.