Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
MARIGOT—Ruben Girault-Darteyre from St. Martin achieved a second place overall in the Under 18 division of the International Junior Shidokan Championships held in Japan.
Girault-Darteyre (13) who was born in St. Martin December 1, 2000, was apparently disqualified in the final however. Details of his bouts and results could not be obtained from coaches by press time.
According to brief information on the athlete, he took up Shidokan in 2005 and although overweight he worked hard to lose pounds to become the best in the class. Five years later he won his Brown belt and was even ready to take on the Black belt but was still too young.
Coach Christian Pujol noted the difference in level between Ruben and other students and to avoid injury to the younger students the decision was made, with Coach Rodolphe Arnal to put him into an adult class.
School studies became a concern for his parents but they consented to let him attend Muay Thai classes as well, six per week at one and a half hours per session.
In Japan, not yet 14 years old, he would have been fighting athletes older than he was. Pujol pointed out it is impossible in Japan to find someone weighing 84kg unless they are 15 or 16.
Girault-Darteyre won his Black belt (1st Dan) last year. Pujol described him as "exceptionally talented and mature for his age."
