Sylvain Ternon is sadly leaving the world of racketlon, a decision he compares to the end of a romantic relationship.
The Frenchman ends having played around 200 games and for over ten years, starting as a very strong player and getting better and better to the point where, in May 2024, he became World No.1 for the first time, remaining there for 13 months.
“It’s a bit like a breakup: you know it’s the right decision, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt,” he says on his racketlon retirement.
“Even though the decision was made several months ago and I had plenty of time to think it through, once everything really comes to an end, emotions get mixed up.”
“I’d say two feelings, both opposite and complementary, dominate. Sadness: leaving behind a competitive world I’ve been part of for nearly thirty years (badminton included). And relief: no longer having to wake up each morning wondering what to work on in training, which strategies to set up to catch up with Koen or to challenge the Griffith brothers.”
Sylvain has played 22 tournaments (singles but often doubles too) since the start of 2023, so his retirement, while of course sad, is understandable.
And it is a nice way to leave with Ternon leading France to their first World Championships final, following convincing wins against Germany and Denmark, both the team and Sylvain himself in his rubbers against Cornelius Radermacher and doubles with Anthony Duthuillé against Søren Smit and Jacob Steinmetz.
In fact, even in the final, he was four to the good (8-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-6) in his rubber against the World Champion, Leon Griffiths, who Sylvain also defeated earlier in the year to claim the SWT Investist Racketlon Open, in Turkey, 21-18, 21-13, 9-21, 21-18 in a thrilling final.
He says, “This silver medal is simply historic for France! The whole team stuck together, and we managed to dominate major racketlon nations like Germany and Denmark, with an exceptional level of play from everyone.”
“It was really a highlight. And for me, my last match ended with a win against the reigning world champion. I like leaving with that image, even if it remains secondary.”
Sylvain started racketlon after he had reached a point with his badminton where he could no longer progress and was excited by the idea of racketlon, having been told about it aged 17 by Nicolas Séne, a former international badminton player.
At the end of his badminton career, he says he enjoyed exploring racket sports and so decided to pour all his energy and resources into racketlon, with a very professional approach where he involved physios, nutritionists, a mental coach, and his trainers. It helped him improve his table tennis and squash particularly. He says looking back ten years “I can really see how far I’ve come.”
He still rues that he never became World Champion. He explains, “As for regrets, of course, I never managed to win the world champion title I was aiming for. Last year, in the final, Luke [Griffiths] was incredible in the key moments. It was as if he had an ’emergency button’ that allowed him to instantly play at an exceptional level whenever things got tricky for him. I even thought he was going to pull it off again this year, after his incredible comeback against Leon in the badminton.”
But he was only a whisker away and he has the wisdom to put this in perspective, as a very minor thing in a fantastic career: “As for how I see my career, I’d say it wasn’t perfect, but I feel immense pride in the journey I’ve taken. The patience and perseverance it took to reach this level, in a sport without comfortable income or much recognition outside the racketlon community, sometimes make me think I was a bit crazy… but it’s a madness I don’t regret.”
A familiar feeling for racketlon players!
In fact, he has a positive record – 2-1, or 3-2 if you include rubbers in team events – against the current World Champion, Leon Griffiths. The win against him in the semi of the 2023 French Open is his most proud moment.
He says, “The greatest moment of my career remains my victory over Leon in Paris: it was the first time a French player had beaten a world No. 1… and what a No. 1! That day, I understood that I could beat anyone. I think it was that moment that gave me the drive to keep setting very ambitious goals.”
He is also very proud of the French racketlon scene, which is extremely healthy, with around one-fifth of all players at the recent World Championships in Rotterdam representing the nation. He believes France has found a “recipe” for success in racketlon, at the top level and in terms of attracting players of all levels. “I would like to thank all involved in France Racketlon, especially the organizing committee,” he states.
And now…the world is his oyster! Of his future plans, he explains, “I’ll continue working as a badminton and racketlon coach in Austria. On the other hand, I’m done with competition. My priority now is to learn German. I’m also considering new hobbies… dance? music? chess? Anything is possible!” [Editor’s note: I recommended Chess.com, thinking he was a beginner, but turns out Sylvain plays chess well too. We played blitz, five minutes each. Position and material was similar and I timed out, while he had about 25 seconds.]
I think I speak for all in the racketlon community by wishing Sylvain the best of luck and that we hope to see him again!
