INTERVIEW WITH LAURA LEYDET
1. Can you tell us something about yourself? What is your name, how old are you and where are you from?
„My name is Laura Leydet, I am 24 years old and I am a citizen of the world with a strong Polish foundation, and my identity is a puzzle of cultures. I come from France, but in my heart I feel Polish –] I am a person who does not like definitions that limit development. I lived in Spain, the Dominican Republic and France. I speak five languages and teach French. Professionally, I combine extreme worlds: I am a psychologist and a poet, I deal with investments in London, and I also created my own application app.arsvida.net. I often hear the question: „How do you find time for all this?“. The answer is simple, although demanding: discipline. It is what allows me to be simultaneously a French teacher, a model and an athlete, without losing my passion for singing and playing the guitar. It allows me to combine the world of business logic with artistic sensitivity.“
2. When did you become interested in volleyball and when did you start training?
„My adventure with volleyball started atypically and quite late, only in the second grade of middle school at the School of Sports Excellence in Mielec. To be honest, at the beginning I didn’t love volleyball at all – my passion was football. However, the lack of a female team in the area put me before a choice: any sport or nothing. I chose the sports specialization out of common sense, but love came with time. The breakthrough was the moment when I ended up in Krakow’s Bronowianka. There, under the eye of a great coach, I felt a true bond with the team. I understood then that volleyball is not just bouncing the ball, but a complicated game of relationships and characters.“
3. How much are you tall and what position do you play?
„I am 165 cm tall, which makes me a „typical“ girl in the world of giants, but on the court this height is my asset. I play as a libero. It is a position for people with nerves of steel, excellent reflexes and great humility. As a libero, I am the foundation of the defense – my role is giving the team safety and second chances.“
4. Who are your idols in sports in general and who in volleyball?
„I don’t have idols and I say this with full conviction. Every human being has their weaknesses, and we, looking from the outside, see only the tip of the iceberg – success, the flash of cameras and medals. I don’t know the full story of another human being, their pain and sacrifices, so creating artificial patterns disturbs perception. Instead of looking for idols outside, every day I try to be simply a better version of myself. My only point of reference is my own progress.“
5. In which club did you start training and in which club are you today?
„I started in Szóstka Mielec, in the south of Poland, where I took my first, difficult steps. I played for a while in Krakow and in Alicante in Spain. Currently, I play in France, representing the colors of the club in the 2nd National League in Caudry.“
6. Can you single out some of the successes you achieved with the club?
„Successes for me are a wide palette, going beyond the result on the scoreboard. Of course, winning matches and promotions to higher leagues are pleasing, but I consider the mental evolution to be the most satisfaction and work on team dynamics gives me that. Working in a team is a constant learning of communication where different cultures and characters meet. The most difficult fight is fought not with the opponent, but with one’s own attitude. I learned to trust my own intuition and logic, trust the process and maintain autonomy. There was a moment in which I was losing myself in the opinions of others, but finally I said „stop“ to regain self-confidence and play on my own terms. So I trusted MY analysis of the game and then I started to fight as best as I can. Regaining my own voice on the court is my biggest trophy.“
7. What are your plans for the future in terms of volleyball?
„Volleyball is for me a passport to getting to know the world. My dream and plan is to find a club in some warm country permanently already. I would like to combine professional sport with discovering a new culture, perhaps somewhere where the sun shines all year round, and volleyball combines with the energy of the sun, perhaps Mediterranean countries or something more exotic? Definitely outside Europe.“
8. Would you recommend the younger generation of boys and girls to try volleyball?
„Definitely yes, but with full awareness that the world of sport can be brutal. Sport is a metaphor for life – it teaches determination and develops the brain in a way that no one or no book will replace. Even if you meet people who will want to make your life miserable, treat it as an opportunity to learn. On the court, intelligence and common fight win anyway, and the harder the ball – the better you will come out of it. Unity wins:) .“ It teaches self-awareness of one’s own body to prevent injuries, and absolute trust in oneself. Without self-confidence, fear takes control, and with fear you won’t go far. Without trust in yourself, you won’t win the trust of the team or the coach. On the court, (like in a lens!) you can see characters: who cheats, who is loyal, who can keep cool in stressful situations and this is not only of the players but also the coach!
Intervjui sa sportistkinjama iz inostranstva objavljuju se isključivo na engleskom jeziku.
Interviews with sportswomen from abroad are published exclusively in English.
Note: The author of the photo is Kamil Dobrowolski. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the opportunity to use it on our website.
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