This past weekend, Jean-Étienne Boillot competed in the French Throwdown in the Masters 55-59 category.
Jean-Étienne Boillot shared his journey, motivations, and ambitions in the world of CrossFit®.
Can you introduce yourself in a few words?
My name is Jean-Étienne Boillot. I am currently in the Masters 55-59 category and I am competing at the French Throwdown this weekend.
How long have you been doing CrossFit®?
I’ve been doing CrossFit® since 2013. I discovered the discipline somewhat by chance through a fellow gendarme who introduced me to it, while I was coming from a pure bodybuilding background. I immediately got hooked. At the time, I was doing it alongside my job as a motorcycle instructor at the Gendarmerie School in Fontainebleau. I even started a section there, but it wasn’t officially CrossFit® yet—we called it cross training because we didn’t have the affiliation.
When did you first hear about CrossFit®?
I also met Alexandre Jolivet, a well-known name in the CrossFit® world. Back then, he had already won the French Throwdown. He was an instructor at the National Sports Center for Defense in Fontainebleau, which trains high-level military athletes.
Why did you choose to affiliate your box?
Over time, I became really interested in the CrossFit® methodology. That’s why I went for the Level One certification. After passing it, I thought, why not affiliate our cross training gym as a CrossFit® box? So, I affiliated my gym in 2021, and it’s been going pretty well. There are three coaches, and there’s a lot of enthusiasm and many members. It’s truly a great adventure.
How do you feel ahead of your first Games?
The Games are really the ultimate competition for me. I’ve been trying for seven years to follow all the calendars: the Open, quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final. I’ve been fighting for six years to get there, and this year, everything aligned perfectly. So, I’m testing myself for three days at the French Throwdown to see if I can handle four days of competition over there. It’s a great test for me to be here in the Masters 55-59 category. For me, it’s the holy grail, since CrossFit® comes from the USA, and it’s truly something huge to be able to participate in this competition.
Follow Jean Etienne’s road to the Games on his socials. You can watch the full interview on Hustle Up’s Instagram.