Pierre le Coq may just be the coolest dentist in the world. When he’s not tending to the teeth of his patients in Saint Brieuc, a town on the northwest coast of France, you can find him riding the waves off Brittany, sharpening his windsurfing skills in pursuit of Olympic gold.
Although windsurfing and dentistry might seem like an unlikely pairing, le Coq has managed to excel in both. He already boasts two world titles and a bronze medal from the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he defied a “catastrophic start” to fight his way up the rankings and clinch a podium finish.
Despite being in 17th place after the opening stages of the competition, he put together a remarkable performance marked by determination and focus to secure a spot on the medal podium. The qualities that made him an excellent dentist—attention to detail and perseverance—have helped him thrive in the highly competitive world of windsurfing.
Le Coq’s passion for windsurfing started early. Coming from a family of avid windsurfers, he began at age 11 at his local Saint Brieuc club, where he still trains. By 17, he was crowned junior world champion, and by the next year, he secured his second world title.
However, instead of jumping into the senior circuit right away, he chose to focus on his dental studies, immersing himself fully in his academic career for several years. Despite the interruption, his competitive drive never waned, and once he qualified as a dentist, he made his return to international windsurfing.
“Getting back to the top level was difficult, but I never lost sight of my objectives,” le Coq recalls.
It wasn’t long before he was back on the medal podium, collecting a World Cup bronze in 2012 and a European championship bronze the following year. In 2014, he claimed his first World Cup victory.
Balancing the demands of a high-pressure career with his windsurfing ambitions has been a challenge, but le Coq’s calm demeanor conceals an intense, military-style approach to time management and commitment. Having already tasted Olympic success, the Frenchman now has his eyes set on gold at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
“Every time I look at my bronze medal from Rio, I feel inspired,” says le Coq. “I hope to improve the color next time.”
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