Victor Crouin cemented his place among the greatest The World Games squash champions by successfully defending his men's singles title at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, China.
The Frenchman claimed a second consecutive The World Games gold medal after defeating Hungary's Balazs Farkas in the final, repeating the success he first achieved in Birmingham in 2022. But while retaining his crown was a career highlight, Crouin says the memories that will stay with him extend far beyond the medal itself.
Among the defining moments of the Games was leading the French delegation into the Opening Ceremony as flag bearer.
"One of the things that was special was the opening ceremony and also being the flag bearer for France. That will definitely be one of the moments I remember most from the competition.", Crouin said.
The unique atmosphere throughout the Games also left a lasting impression on the professional squash player.
"Every time I stepped onto the court and walked to the venue with the lights, it was something I wasn't used to," he explained.
"As a professional squash player, I wasn't used to that kind of organisation and atmosphere. It really helped me stay focused and be fully present for the match I was about to play."
Standing atop the podium after months of preparation was an emotional reward, made even more meaningful by sharing the experience with those closest to him.
"Standing on the podium and winning a medal meant a lot," Crouin said.
"Looking back on all the summer training, the long weeks of preparation and the stress of competition, it was incredibly emotional to finally achieve that result."
"It was even more special because my dad was there. For the first time, I was able to share that moment with him."
Representing France gave the victory an added significance.
"One of the unique things about the Games is that you're no longer competing just for yourself—you are competing for your country," he said.
"We really felt the support of the entire French delegation, the physios, officials, the whole squash team and even athletes from other sports in the village who came to watch and support us, especially during the final. It felt amazing to achieve that result together."
Preparation proved crucial to his successful title defence. Crouin credited a strong summer of training with his coaches for giving him confidence heading into Chengdu, while the unexpected honour of becoming France's flag bearer ultimately became a source of inspiration rather than added pressure.
"I wasn't sure what stepping into that role would feel like, especially with the opening ceremony taking place the night before my first match," he admitted. "In the end, it turned out to be an incredibly positive experience because it really immersed me in the Games and gave me so much positive energy going into my match the next day. Looking back, it was one of the best things that happened during the event."
Away from competition, life inside the Athletes' Village created memories just as valuable as those made on court.
"Living together in the village gave us the chance to connect with athletes from many different countries," Crouin said.
"The cafeteria was always a great place to meet people. I especially remember spending time with the American and Canadian teams, which was a lot of fun."
One encounter in particular helped shape his mindset before the final.
"We had just watched a French athlete lose a fight and suffer a painful injury," he recalled.
"Seeing his determination to recover and come back to win the bronze medal was incredibly motivating. It inspired me to go into my own final and give everything I had. Sometimes simply being around other athletes brings you motivation."
Looking to the future, Crouin is excited about squash entering a new era with its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
"What excites me most is the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028," he said.
"Everything will feel completely different because it will be squash's first appearance at the Olympic Games. That's what excites me most about the next chapter for our sport, along with the visibility and media attention that squash will receive."
After that, his focus will return to defending French colours once again at the next edition of The World Games.
"Absolutely," Crouin said when asked about competing at The World Games in Germany.
"I'm looking forward to representing France again at The World Games in Germany. I wouldn't miss The World Games, and I'll definitely be there, ready to compete."