At the end of March, he flew to the United States to compete in the Ninja World Championships. Today, Virgile Tiki is back in Montluel, not qualified and “a little disappointed” but satisfied to have been the best Frenchman in the 6-13 year old category. Despite a good run, the young schoolboy failed… because of about ten seconds on the clock. “The course was not that difficult but the very short time – one minute and thirty seconds – played a big part in the balance”, admits Virgile. It must be said that the journey had not started in very good conditions: 20 hours late on the outward flight, a lot of sick children, difficult management of jet lag just before a competition…
“It makes you want to go back but by working a lot more”
From the United States, he will remember the statue of Abraham Lincoln, in Washington, and the White House. “It was a good experience but we didn’t expect such a high level from the little Americans,” adds his dad, Samuel, on his way to the Warrior Adventure room in Lyon.
Because Virgile does not let himself be defeated: “I will continue to train thoroughly and do the competitions on Saturday evening in Villeurbanne. I’m going to test myself a bit, ”says the young teenager. Who will multiply the practices: climbing, gymnastics… To be more comfortable in all areas and not to let go. “It makes you want to go back but by working a lot more,” he smiles.
In the meantime, the Montluel family only keeps the good: “The France group was very nice. The older ones took the youngsters under their wings for the warm-ups. There was good intergenerational cohesion,” recalls Samuel. Ninja spirit? “We don’t want to see the other fall but we want to win anyway”, said the daddy hen. He concludes: “These are exactly the sporting values that we seek to instill as parents. »