Sylvain Ternon has unfortunately retired from racketlon, after a fantastic career. Here we have gathered the thoughts of some his friends, teammates, and rivals across the years.
Myriam Enmer: “I met Sylvain in 2020 on a training camp at Alpe d’Huez during my early days in racketlon. We shared some great moments, including two World Championship medals with the French team in 2023 and 2025. His recent victory in Turkey against Leon Griffiths, the 2025 world champion, will remain a great memory and is a reminder that he was among the very best in the world. His absence will be felt at upcoming tournaments. Happy retirement, Sylvain, and congratulations on a wonderful career!”
Mandrin Mouchet: “Sylvain is a constant fighter. His battles in badminton and racketlon, but also on his bike during his summer climbs in the Alps or in card games like skull king.”
“As a leader, he has contributed to the French national team’s rise to international prominence in recent years. I’m proud to have shared those moments with him. We played against each other many times in 10 years (I’ll keep the anecdote of being able to play tennis during our 1st and last meeting).
“I regret not having been able to play doubles with him, but maybe we’ll make up for it at Pickleball who knows.”
Koen Hageraats: “I think he came on tour about the same time as me, so we got better a bit at the same time. I always enjoyed playing with him. He was a tough fighter. He always used different tactics to get you out of your concentration, but I liked it.”
“Because of my profile, I always managed to get the better of him, which was sad for him because he might have been the better racketlon player overall. He is for sure the best badminton player who played racketlon since I started.
“His table tennis and his tennis he improved massively. Especially table tennis. It is a hard sport to play when you get older, and he managed to get quite a high level there. So he did a very good job. Great sportsman. I liked having him on tour. He could also beat the Griffithses, where I really cannot do that, apparently.
“It’s sad that he is leaving the tour, but I think he had some really good results, so I am happy for him and maybe we will see him later.”
Jean Michot: “Sylvain was the French version of Jesper Razer for us. Only a few French players, ignoring those who knew him when he started racketlon, can say “I managed to take him up to tennis”. But most of the time he only had less than 6 points to score against me so the challenge was huge given his comfortable tennis level.”
Duncan Stahl: “I first met Sylvain over 10 years ago (we actually won the Antwerp Open playing doubles together!)…and even back then it was clear that Sylvain had big ambitions to become the best racketlon player he could possibly be: asking for advice about where he could get the best squash coaching – he has continually looked to improve himself over 10+ years playing on the world tour.”
“And I can’t think of many players that I’ve played against and watched who have managed to improve their overall level of Racketlon more than Sylvain has. So to eventually become world no.1 has been an amazing achievement – and the direct result of so many years hard work and dedication.
“He was very unlucky to come up against Koen at the last world championships, as Sylvain had the game and the profile to have a chance of beating everyone else in the draw! But that’s Racketlon and Sylvain should still be hugely proud of everything he has achieved in the sport.”
