While the term “son of a dad” might evoke images of priviledge, it carries a different weight within the French volleyball team. Here, it represents a lineage of dedication and passion that has fueled the nation’s rise to the top of the sport.

France’s volleyball team boasts an extraordinary six players who followed in their fathers’ footsteps to achieve Olympic gold.This is notably remarkable considering France’s previous struggles to even reach the quarter-finals of Olympic tournaments.The team’s gold medal wins in Tokyo in 2021 and Paris in 2024 mark a new era of dominance.

Earvin NgaPeth, Trévor Clévenot, Kévin Tilie, Jean Patry, Jenia Grebennikov, and Yacine Louati were all introduced to volleyball at a young age, inspired by their fathers’ prosperous international careers.

“We grew up in families who play volleyball, we played on the beach from our very young age, we played together and against others and it became a big force,” said Captain Clévenot, a gold medalist and the only “son of a dad” present in Quebec for the League of Nations. “There are other sons to dad in the field in Quebec and it continues to push. As long as the volleyball has this pool of players behind who arrives, it’s great.”

Eric NgaPeth, Christophe Patry, Alain Clévenot, and Laurent Tillie all proudly represented France on the international stage, while Boris Grebennikov and the late Moutaa Louati played for the USSR and Tunisia, respectively.

The younger generation in Quebec includes Mathis Henno,son of French legend and Libero Hubert Henno (254 national team selections),and Théo Faure,whose father Stéphane captained the French team with 350 selections. Faure’s mother is also a former professional volleyball player from Germany.

The Pressure of Excellence

Clévenot acknowledges both the advantages and disadvantages of growing up with a parent who is an international athlete. “Very small in the sand, the requirements were already turning to the high level. Technical lessons also have very profitable. When the requirements are high, honesty is there. My father told me when it was wrong. It had to be taken positively and grow up.”

“This medal was even more beautiful because it was won in front of my family and friends,” said the French captain.

Volleyball’s Rising Profile

The two olympic gold medals have significantly raised volleyball’s profile in France, but Clévenot emphasizes that there is still work to be done.

“We remain a minor sport, we are not a major sport,” said Clévenot, who has over 200 national team selections. “We are fortunate to have beautiful generations who have arrived and that have highlighted sport,but there are still a lot to do in terms of development. We are far behind handball and basketball without talking about football and rugby that are far ahead. It is indeed monstrous what Laurent Tillie has done for French volleyball in ten years at the head of the national team.”

The victory in Paris felt like a dream come true. “Our victory in Tokyo was incredible and that in paris even more special. It was something to see my friends cry in the room,” the French captain recalled.