Victor Crouin: Olympic Ambitions, Strategic Shifts, and a "Methodical" Approach to Squash Excellence

Chatting live with a studio audience, Victor offered some insightful reflections on his past season, his evolving goals, and his meticulous preparation for the future of squash.

Reflecting on a Season of Growth and Key Victories

Despite not breaking back into the top eight during the 24-25 season, Victor celebrated some crucial wins. He was particularly pleased to secure a bronze event title at the German Open in March, since he had "been waiting to win another bronze event since February ‘23". This win was a testament to his rigorous physical training, as he noted, "The physical training that I've been doing is really paying off because I can play back-to-back matches without feeling too sore. So that was a goal of mine starting the season". He also clinched two annual goals: the European Championship and the French Nationals.

Victor highlighted other strong performances, including nearly defeating Diego Elias at the quarterfinals of the Grasshopper Cup in Zurich, and his best European team championship to date, where Crouin beat Mohamed El Shorbagy for the first time. Reflecting on his overall season, Victor said, "I'm pretty happy about the way I finished the season, I feel like my game is back on track". 

Currently ranked number 11, Victor also mentioned that he’ll miss playing against Ali Farag and Tarek Momen, who’ve retired this year. 

Redefining His On-Court Identity and Methodical Training

A significant aspect of Victor's recent development involves mental work to "reassess my identity as a player what kind of like style of play I want to bring to the court."

He's moved past simply trying to "outplay my opponents with my physicality" and is now focused on leveraging technique and skill. Victor now has an identity that he trusts more: "I know I play my best squash when I'm on the tee and volleying, so I'm trying to play a game where I have those opportunities to volley, which means laying the ball down on the side wall with good accuracy".

His methodical approach to his game is well-known. Harvard's Head Squash Coach, Mike Way, describes Victor as "so methodical in his whole life. I have never in my life met a more structured individual. He leaves no stone unturned and as I said, methodical, in everything that he does." This extends to his unique and effective cross court backhand nick shot, an outright winner he practices extensively. 

"My dad at the end of the sessions will throw me balls with his hands up there and I'm going to have to repeat that shot like 50, 100 times really and that is the only way," Victor explained. Echoing Mike Way, he believes "repetition makes perfect" and aims for "as many repetitions as possible under pressure" to ensure consistency in competition.

Victor’s dedication to structured training also involves a sophisticated support system. He works with his father as his main coach, along with staff at France’s National Squash Center in Aix-en-Provence, including a national squash coach, a strength and conditioning coach, and a sports psychologist. To facilitate collaboration and track progress, they all use a French training platform called Nolio, where Victor’s team can access his schedule and training sessions.

Eyes on Olympic Glory: A Strategic Shift

A major shift in Victor's career trajectory is his focus on the 2028 Olympics. He explained, "My goal has shifted, my main goal has shift towards being ready for the Olympics. So, I'm okay playing fewer events in the short term". This strategic decision means he's playing fewer events, specifically 14 events this year, which is slightly below the optimal 15 or 16 for maximizing ranking points due to how the ranking divider works.

The Olympic qualification criteria are still being finalized, with an announcement expected by the end of 2025 or early 2026. Victor views this as a "maybe once in a lifetime opportunity" and aims to "give everything for ‘28". Given he is 26 years old, he is entering his "prime years" and must be careful with his body, especially since going further in tournaments significantly increases the number of matches played per season.

The Mental Game: Adaptability is Key

Victor stressed the paramount importance of the mental aspect in squash: "Probably the most important factor between winning and losing a match is just making the right decision under pressure," he said. 

He emphasized that the learning process never stops. Unexpected situations constantly arise on court, from referee decisions to equipment issues or even contact with opponents. Therefore, "the biggest strength is being ready to adapt to any situation".

He is actively working with two psychologists, including Jesse Engelbrecht from SportMind, to enhance his mental readiness for the Olympics and become "more feisty on court".

Navigating the Tour and Connecting with the Community

The professional squash tour is complex, with tournaments across continents. Victor embraces the travel, especially after training blocks when "I am just excited to be traveling, and I don't mind the traveling part". He enjoys playing the Open Squash Classic in New York in October due to the weather and opportunities to "catch up with so many people". Hong Kong in November/December is another favorite destination for its weather and exploration opportunities.

Victor acknowledged the increasing physicality of the game, a shift he doesn't enjoy, preferring the "intellectual part of the chess" over the "boxing" aspect of squash. However, he accepts it as part of the game and adapts: "It's just accepting that it's part of the game and deal with the situation. It is another learning experience, to be honest". He also actively engages with referees to understand their decisions, recognizing that it's "tough to be in their position," and that players must "adapt to the way they see the game in the moment" to succeed.

We wish Victor the best as he meticulously prepares for the Olympics and continues to excel on the PSA World Tour. He remains a formidable force and an inspiring ambassador for the sport, exemplifying squash excellence both on and off the court.