He trains him since he is 15, since he has been at the French national training center. Olivier Beaudry is the coach of « el fenomeno » for more than 6 years. Steven Da Costa (-67 kg) is a phenomenon of precocity. European champion in the 4 age categories, Junior World champion, 2nd in U21, he touched the Holy Grail at just 21 years old by becoming Senior World champion last November in Madrid. Why and How did Steven Da Costa become so strong ? The decryption of Olivier Beaudry.

By Ludovic Mauchien / Photo : Kphotos

Did Steven surprise you in Madrid when he won the World championships ?

He does not really surprise me in the sense that we expect him where he is. When he ranked 3rd at the 2016 World championships, there was a form of disappointment for him. I was not disappointed because a world medal, you have to win it ! But I also knew he could do better. Everyone knew it. In Madrid, it was a validation of his level. I was not surprised because I knew he was able to do it. And I think he can be even stronger.

After a disappointing spring, nothing seems to stop Steven now. What is different in a 6-months time ?

He simply begins to mature. We must not forget that he is only 22 years old. Everything he had done before was already exceptional for his age. He's young. He will reach a maturity that will come almost to point for the Games...

He also made a lot of effort in his preparation, in relation to his diet, to a lot of things. Moreover, a World champion title also gives confidence. Everything put together makes that he achieves great performance.

His strength, is it not his hunger for victories ?

For sure ! This is his strength. Like all great champions, he hates losing. And, finally, the more he wins, the more he wants to win. He has just particpated in 3 competitions. He is the only one in the world to have won 3 consecutive victories, the World championship, the Paris Open and Dubai.

When I talk to him, I feel he is even more hungry. The more he eats, the bigger his stomach gets. In previous years, this is a period where he felt like being cooler. Today, I feel in his speech that he still wants to win. This is a good point !

« EVEN WHEN IT IS TIGHT, HE IS THE BOSS ON THE MAT »

He asserts himself as the boss...

Yes. Even in the phases where it's tight, because his opponents do not engage much, he remains the boss on the mat. That's important ! Some would tend to doubt, him, he remains the boss, fight to the end and can find solutions.

The difficulties he may face today are that his opponents rather wait and deos not attack much, which can complicate his task. He has to get the points and to be strong. Now, he finds the solutions, which he did not necessarily manage to do before and he is strong. He was very, very strong in Dubai.

The fundamental work you have been doing for 2-3 years to modify his karate, so that it becomes more « Senior than Junior », also seems to pay off...

Once more, Steven is still young. Last year corresponds to an experience : his first season of Premier League. He himself says that he started very well, and all of a sudden, it dropped a bit. He is a boy who gives himself challenges. He did not want to fall back on that again. He does a basic work in the National team’s training, and also with his parents when he is at home.

« ABLE TO SCORE WITH SIMPLE TECHNIQUES »

What did you work first, the punch techniques ?

Not particularly, we try to work everything, also the legs. In fact, he had to be able to score with simple techniques. He must continue to work on his punch techniques, because, what is instinctive with him, are the spectacular leg techniques. But they are not easy to score ! He must also be able to score simple techniques. He still has to work on this but he had already allowed him to unlock some situations.

You do not know what will come out in competition. From one competition to another, we do not have the same feelings. It's not the same things that work. The important thing is to win.

Why also work on leg techniques, if they are instinctive ?

Some are instinctive, like his sweeps. He again scored one in the final in Dubai. But, there, he was still frustrated because he did not score many leg techniques. He asked me to work on my leg techniques again.

It is also important that he is able to do technical series, not only a single one. That was the biggest part of our work : he does not just content himself with one single technique.

Is it easy to train him ?

No ! He is not easy to train. He is not easy to coach either. He is someone, like many champions, who is always seeking perfection. As soon as something goes wrong, it's a problem for him.

Above all, he's a fighter. This means that, from the moment we have to do some work that is different from the fight work, he is less delighted... He wants to fight all the time.