At the far end of that part of Marseille known as the Corniche, facing the island of Frioul on the horizon, there is this outcrop over the sea where two extraordinary swimming pools were built and filled. This is the Cercle des Nageurs, an esteemed institution of the city and a haven for champions. The head coach of the “CNM”, as it is known, is Romain Barnier, former representative of the French Olympic team, who competed at the Sydney Games in 2000 and in Athens four years later. He also won the French freestyle championships ten times. This Marseille figure, the very opposite of the tight-briefs-and-combed-hair image of the poolside coach, welcomes us in the large light-filled room at the top of the Cercle. And just before beginning the interview, he reminds one of his colleagues that, in future, the indoor pool water must be set to 27.5 degrees rather than 25.5.
Is it easy for a swimmer to appear in swimming briefs before a poolside audience, or is there a sense of modesty in such situations?
Let us be clear: it is extremely easy. I think briefs are a garment that is entirely sufficient to dress a man. Still, there is a huge difference between someone who is naked and someone wearing swimming briefs. Certainly, being in briefs is a form of exposure, but the swimmer does not endure it. He works on his body to ensure he always looks as good as possible in briefs.
Today, many swimmers compete wearing swimsuits. What is distinctive about these garments?
The swimsuit is developed using cutting-edge technology. It is woven and rewoven, then coated in Teflon. Unlike ordinary clothes, you do not put it on. You build it onto your body, centimetre by centimetre. It is generally a battle lasting a good fifteen minutes. I think wearing a swimming suit is the strongest sensation one can experience with a garment. It is armour; the body is connected to another dimension. You become another person. It is an extreme transformation.
How has your relationship with fashion evolved?
As a former elite swimmer, I spent part of my life in tracksuits. At that time, comfort came before everything else. I wore clothes that were easy to put on and take off. Over time, and after retiring, I began to take an interest in fashion. I wanted to have style, to express character through my clothes. Today, I enjoy walking around the streets, especially in Paris, and drawing inspiration from what I see around me, from the people I meet, to shape my look. Even if fashion is not a priority, it remains important to me. I believe my clothes allow me to tell the world who I am. And I evolve. There was a period when I wore only very slim trousers — mind you, I was no longer a swimmer, so my thighs could fit into them! Today, let us say I am very casual. I wear carrot trousers, slightly loose. I feel good in them. I like wearing wool trousers in winter and chinos in summer, with a shirt and a jacket. It resembles a suit, but not quite. I do not feel comfortable in a suit. The only eccentricities I indulge in are very long coats. I also like very colourful socks, or a pair of red patent leather shoes. On the other hand, it is impossible to get me to wear anything with prints on it.
Ultimately, the only times I put on what is known as a "coach’s" outfit are at official competitions, when there is a dress code to observe.
What outfit do you wear when you have to lead the Cercle swimmers’ training sessions?
At such times, most coaches religiously go to the changing room to put on poolside attire: polo shirt, shorts, sliders and a stopwatch around the neck. It may seem surprising, but that is not me. By the pool, I am never in sportswear. Above all because I do not want to waste time changing in a changing room several times a day. I like to remain the same, from evening to morning. And I do not need to dress that way to make myself understood by my swimmers. Most of the time, I wear jeans, and that creates no distance at all between us. I think athletes like having a coach with style.
By the pool, quite simply, I turn up the hem of my jeans to avoid getting chlorinated water on them, wear sliders, or cover my shoes with a protective bag, as in chemical factories. Ultimately, the only times I put on what is known as a "coach’s" outfit are at official competitions, when there is a dress code to observe.
What are your favourite fabrics?
For me, above all, clothes need to be easy to wear. I love wool because it does not crease. In my wardrobe, for example, I have this flannel shirt that never needs ironing after washing. I think that is brilliant. Conversely, while linen is a sublime material, it is not my favourite because the shirt changes shape when worn. My dream would be to develop a shirt with the comfort of linen and the invulnerability of a swimming suit. Linen and cotton?