B.R.M Chronographes x Renaud Lavillenie

Ambassador for B.R.M Chronographes, Renaud Lavillenie embodies excellence, passion and determination. This extraordinary athlete, with his nerves of steel, proudly carries the colours of France on international podiums. His journey, marked by impressive records and a constant quest for perfection, echoes the fundamental values of B.R.M Chronographes.

Our manufacture is proud to support Renaud Lavillenie in his achievements by offering him a bespoke automatic timepiece, designed to meet the technical requirements and unique constraints faced by this high-level champion. This partnership perfectly symbolises the alliance between the art of watchmaking and high-level athletics, where every detail counts and where the pursuit of performance is omnipresent.

The watchword of this collaboration: lightness.

Every component of this watch has been meticulously machined to the nearest gramme. The manufacturing process has been carefully considered to guarantee reduced weight, without compromising robustness and precision, thus enabling the French pole vaulter to concentrate fully on his performance without any constraint.

The B.R.M Chronographes watch developed for Renaud Lavillenie is a true technical feat. Like the athlete, it seeks to push boundaries, to achieve extreme precision, to overcome challenges. Every movement of the watch is a metaphor for self-transcendence: it functions with perfect fluidity, whilst offering irreproachable reliability and performance, whatever the context.

B.R.M CHRONOGRAPHES MEETS RENAUD LAVILLENIE

This start to 2021 has been rich in performances; what does your daily training consist of to reach such a level?

Each day is structured around general physical preparation work: weight training sessions, running exercises, speed work, but also technical work with jumping sessions to always strive to go higher. In a typical week, that's between 5 and 8 training sessions, and one must add the work with the physiotherapist for recovery, which is a very important part of performance.

Watch brands are numerous; why did you choose to wear a B.R.M Chronographes watch (which you keep on during your jumps, by the way)?

Watch brands are numerous, but French luxury brands are far fewer. That is one of the reasons that led me to approach B.R.M Chronographes. I had had the chance to wear a B.R.M during a shoot for a sports magazine in 2014 and I had loved that watch (the RG-46); its lightness and design appealed to me.

And then I particularly appreciate French excellence; B.R.M Chronographes watches are made to measure, unique pieces, and that is something I adore. Since I have had mine (an SP6-44), it is unthinkable for me to compete without it. With its lightness (less than 50 grammes) I feel nothing on my wrist, but I am always on time! Well, almost…

Can you tell us how you met Mr Bernard Richards?

After a few contacts by email and telephone, we met during winter 2020 during a transit of mine via Paris at the airport. It was a fascinating exchange, talking about motorcycles for the first 45 minutes before getting to the heart of the matter. He showed me different masterpiece watches he had brought so that I could appreciate the precision and lightness of them. At that moment, I discovered Bernard's passion for precision and competition; the connection between us was very easy.

You are also a motorcycle collector; do you take the time to ride?

Depending on the time of year and the weather, I try to always find a bit of time to ride… Whether on two or four wheels, for a ride or on the track. It allows me to escape a little, to get a change of scene. Of course, when important deadlines approach I am sensible, but just taking a motorcycle to go to the stadium, even for 10 minutes, is already a real pleasure. I am fortunate to live in a region with beautiful Auvergne roads; I might as well make the most of them.

During the pandemic, how does a top-level athlete like yourself manage to stay protected whilst continuing training and competition?

It is a particular situation. We are already privileged to be able to continue training and thus prepare for important deadlines, notably the Tokyo Olympic Games this summer. Day to day, we have had to learn to leave a little more space between us athletes, but also with our staff. That is not easy every day, especially when we have strong emotions that we like to share. Even though we are tested regularly, we know that there is no such thing as zero risk. Fundamentally, the training is the same and that helps us maintain our performance level. On the other hand, contacts with people outside our daily routine are much more limited. We have assimilated that now and when we are obliged to do so, distancing comes very naturally.

Do you have any advice for young people who would like, like you, to succeed in their athletic career?

For me, the first thing is to love what you do. Without passion, it will always be more difficult to make important decisions… with passion, what others see as sacrifices are for us only steps towards the goals for success. One must not be afraid to believe in one's dreams and give oneself the means to achieve them, no matter what may be said around you. And above all, one must never regret having tried!