Victor Cullet Calderini, a cross-country skier trained in the Belleville valley

Roots in the Belleville valley

Victor Cullet Calderini grew up in the Belleville valley, a place he describes as a source of balance between sport, family and friends. His sporting career took shape at Club des Sports des Menuires, with which he retains close ties through competition. The valley continues to shape his path as an athlete.

A specialism chosen after trying several sports

Before committing to cross-country skiing, Victor Cullet Calderini tried several sports: football, judo, climbing and Alpine skiing. He says he values sport in all its variety. Cross-country skiing stood out as the obvious choice, the discipline in which he performs best and which gives him the strongest sensations, shared with his teammates. A spell in biathlon came before he settled definitively on cross-country skiing.

Individual demands at the heart of the sport

Cross-country skiing draws Victor Cullet Calderini in through its demands and the almost total absence of chance: in his view, performance rests almost entirely on the athlete. He points to the direct link between the work put in and the results achieved. The feel of gliding and the variety of effort involved are among the things that bind him to the sport.

A path shaped by determination

Victor Cullet Calderini describes himself as strong-willed, with a constant drive to win. That determination carried him through his biggest sporting challenge: starting again from scratch to rebuild his level and progress once more.

Club memories and local role models

Beyond competition, Victor Cullet Calderini holds strong memories of his years at the club, particularly the bus journeys to training sessions, moments of reunion and camaraderie among teammates. He names Renaud Jay, whom he knew first as an athlete and later as a coach, and Vincent Jay, as role models from the same valley. Their careers feed his own ambition to reach the very top.

Aiming for the top level

Victor Cullet Calderini's goal is to join Group A of the France cross-country skiing team, establish himself there long-term and perform on the World Cup circuit. He currently competes with the France team's B squad, a step on his path towards that level. He is driven by his taste for a challenge and his wish to represent his home valley.

Key points

1. Victor Cullet Calderini is a cross-country skier trained at Club des Sports des Menuires, in the Belleville valley.
2. He specialised in cross-country skiing after trying football, judo, climbing, Alpine skiing and biathlon.
3. He values cross-country skiing for its almost total absence of chance and the direct link between work and performance.
4. He competes with the France team's B squad and is aiming for a lasting place in Group A, with the ambition of performing in the World Cup.
5. Renaud Jay, a former athlete turned coach, and Vincent Jay, an athlete from the same valley, are among his role models.