Professional and International Athletes Testimonials
15 Years Supporting Elite Athletes in Nice
For 15 years, I have dedicated my practice to athletes whose bodies are their primary professional tool. Based in Nice, my role is to support these competitors in maintaining their physical integrity despite intensive training loads and back-to-back competitions.
From World Tour cycling to international figure skating, each discipline imposes specific demands on the musculoskeletal system. Elite athletes do not seek a standard wellness protocol; they require technical intervention: anatomical precision, deep tissue release, and immediate efficiency.
About my approach: The reason these athletes trust my work is the synergy between manual techniques and my understanding of the human body. To understand how I combine Sports massage and acupuncture in Nice, I invite you to view my main presentation page.
Generally, I make it a point not just to list the athletes I support, but to provide clear evidence whenever possible—whether through video testimonials, interviews, or, as in this case, a screenshot of the original review.
World Tour Professional Cyclists
Kevin Vermaerke - UAE Team Emirates-XRG 🚴
Achievements:
Winner Liège-Bastogne-Liège U23
3rd GC Arctic Race of Norway
USA Junior MTB National Champion
Visit to Nice: February 2026
Kevin Vermaerke, American rider for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, came specifically for preparation and maintenance massage. Professional cyclists demand precise work on legs and lower back, areas subjected to repeated strain during long stages and stage races.
The approach for a World Tour cyclist combines deep tissue massage of quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves, with specific work on lumbar and glutes. Recovery between races is crucial for maintaining performance throughout the season.
The screenshot below show his review on my google profile.
Harry Sweeny - EF Education-EasyPost 🚴
Achievements:
Winner Il Piccolo Lombardia
3rd Tour Down Under (GC)
Tour de France participant (2x)
Tour de France stage 3rd place
Visit to Nice: 2025
Harry Sweeny, Australian rider for EF Education-EasyPost, consulted for maintenance massage during his winter preparation. Based in Andorra, he takes advantage of his Côte d'Azur visits to optimize recovery.
Professional cyclists seek a practitioner capable of precisely targeting tension areas without causing muscle trauma. Timing is essential: massage must promote recovery without impacting performance in following days.
Professional recommendation provided with verbal consent during his off-season recovery in the Alpes-Maritimes.
High-Level Figure Skating
Jade Hovine - Team Belgium ⛸️
Achievements:
2022 NRW Trophy Champion
4x Belgian Championships Silver Medal
World Championships competitor
European Championships competitor
Residence in Nice: Law student, Côte d'Azur University
Visit: 2025
Jade Hovine, Franco-Belgian figure skater, lives and trains in Nice. Figure skating intensely stresses the spine, ankles, and hips. Repeated jumps create significant spinal compression, and technical precision demands perfect mobility.
Supporting a high-level skater requires understanding specific constraints: jump landing impacts, lumbar tension from rotations, hip mobility for technical positions. Massage and acupuncture help maintain range of motion while promoting recovery from micro-traumas.
Full video interview available, discussing our specific work on spinal mobility and jump impact recovery.
Professional Women's Basketball
Ryann Payne - Cavigal Nice Basket 06 🏀
Achievements:
Cavigal Nice Basket 06 (LF2)
All-SWAC 2023-24
Prairie View A&M University graduate
Season in Nice: 2024-2025
Video testimonial available
Ryann Payne, American professional basketball player for Cavigal Nice Basket, received regular support throughout her season in Nice. Professional basketball demands constant recovery between games and intensive training.
Professional basketball players primarily stress lower limbs (jumping, direction changes), shoulders (shooting, passing), and back (contact, playing positions). The approach combines sports massage for muscle recovery and acupuncture for joint tension and general fatigue.
Ryann shared her experience on video, testifying to the effectiveness of support for maintaining performance throughout the season.
On-court recovery feedback: watch her smartphone video testimonial regarding our season-long collaboration.
WKF International Karate
Anna-Johanna Nilsson - Team Sweden 🥋
Achievements:
10th WKF World Ranking (Kumite -61kg)
European Championships Bronze Medal 2023
Europeiska Spelen 2023 participant
"Best Sports Performance" Award 2022
Visit to Nice: 2025
Anna-Johanna Nilsson, Swedish world-class karateka, consulted during preparation for international competitions. Kumite karate (combat) stresses the entire body with very specific constraints: explosiveness, balance, impact resistance.
Supporting a fighter at this level requires a comprehensive approach: muscle recovery after intensive training, joint mobility work, managing micro-traumas from impacts. The massage-acupuncture combination optimizes recovery while preserving the explosiveness necessary for competition.
Note: Anna-Johanna had left a Google review with a photo together, unfortunately deleted by Google. I'm currently working to restore it.
Authentic experience: photo captured during our session (Original Google review temporarily hidden by algorithm filters).
Why Professional Athletes Choose Me
What Elite Athletes Seek
Professional athletes have specific requirements that differ from the general public:
In-Depth Anatomical Knowledge Precisely understanding which muscles are involved in each technical movement, which muscle chain is engaged, what compensations develop.
Deep Tissue Without Trauma Reaching deep tensions effectively, without creating soreness or fatigue that would impact next day's training.
Sport-Specific Targeting Cyclists: legs and lower back Skaters: spine, ankles, hips Basketball players: lower limbs, shoulders Karatekas: whole body, explosiveness
Competition Schedule Adaptation Understanding when to intensify work (post-competition recovery) and when to stay light (pre-race or match).
Measurable Results Professionals evaluate effectiveness immediately: range of motion, reduced tension, recovery quality.
My Approach : A Proven Methodology Over 15 Years
Specific Assessment Each athlete arrives with their schedule, immediate goals, tension areas. Initial assessment determines the exact session approach.
Adapted Techniques
Deep sports massage (intense tension areas)
Fasciatherapy (tissue restriction release)
Acupuncture Pressure point and Myofascial release(overall recovery, joint tension)
Constant Communication Professionals know exactly what they need. Exchange during the session allows real-time adjustment: pressure, area, technique.
Quality Guarantee My standard guarantee applies to professionals too: 15 minutes to evaluate if the approach suits. Elite athletes don't have time to waste.