After spending a decade competing at the highest level in beach volleyball, Yousef Krou has entered a new chapter in his sporting life as coach of France women’s beach volleyball team. The French Olympian says his move from athlete to mentor has been molded by the most important lesson of his career, which is the value of resilience.
“Since I retired from beach volleyball, as a player, I’ve been taking the role of coach, and I’m now coaching the women’s beach volleyball team from France,” Krou said. “The most important lesson that my ten years of career in beach volleyball taught me is resilience. Never surrender and always go ahead.
“Through my career, I had a lot of challenges to overcome, whether they were personal or professional, with injuries. Being here a week with Beyond the Court, visiting the IOC, visiting the FIVB, Volleyball World, it’s just a fantastic experience, and I really wish we could draw a line that can be followed up for the next years. So, thank you very much for hosting us.”
Krou represented France on the Beach Pro Tour and at the Olympic Games in Paris, achieving several international podium finishes and earning a reputation for his dedication on and off the court. Now based in Toulouse, he applies the same determination that defined his playing days to help young athletes grow in both skill and confidence.
This year, Krou joined fellow Olympians in Lausanne for the inaugural Beyond the Court programme, an initiative of the FIVB and the International Centre for Sport Studies (CIES) that helps volleyball and beach volleyball players prepare for life after competition.
The week-long programme included workshops on personal development and career planning, visits to the IOC headquarters and the FIVB and Volleyball World offices, and opportunities to connect with experts and peers from around the world. The experience offered both reflection and direction, reminding him that the same qualities that make great athletes such as discipline, teamwork and resilience can also guide them as they move into new roles beyond the game.
Life after competition, he believes, is not about stepping away from volleyball but about carrying forward everything the sport has given him.
