The former world champion in the 400 meter hurdles, consultant for France Télévisions, intervenes as an expert in this Take care of yourself centered on cardiovascular diseases, broadcast Tuesday May 3 at 9:00 p.m. on France 5.
Télé Star: After your retirement as a runner, what led you through your program The Aces of the Heart, to invest in sport-health?
Stephane Diagana: If I did athletics, it was because for me it was a vector of well-being and balance, mentally but also socially. This allowed me, among other things, to make very rich friendships that I still have today. I have also been very much in demand to promote physical activity, in particular by patient associations.
What exactly are the benefits of sport?
I have a scientific background in applied biology and I know that the muscle, in addition to causing movement, produces a whole series of molecules that are beneficial for the body, for the heart, the liver, the adipose tissues… but also the brain. Personally, it makes me more optimistic, more energetic and less irritable.
What is the most complex when supporting people with heart problems?
The major lever on which we must act is a sedentary lifestyle. Even if the will to change is strong in some of these people, they are helpless. They must therefore be identified and understood because there is a public health issue behind this, which is to postpone the age of entry into dependency. But I am surprised by the short-sightedness of all the presidential candidates on the subject, whereas in France in this area we are taking a trajectory that is not tenable.
You will be on France Télévisions for the World Athletics Championships in July. What do you expect?
I hope that we will continue the momentum of the Indoor World Championships. On a very tight delegation of ten members, we had seven finalists and a title with Cyrena Samba-Mayela. We need good news as the Paris Olympics in 2024 approach!
Your path and that of your wife, ex-pentathlete, have they given birth to vocations in your children?
The three went through athletics but only my daughter continued. My sons were more tempted by the idea of high level; she really wants to run! However, it is passion that must be the main driving force behind sports practice.
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