On the evening of the Oscars in Los Angeles, Monday, February 10, Foued Douma received a plethora of congratulatory messages. However, he was not named at any price. But one of her clients, actress Laura Dern, received the statuette for best supporting role with "Marriage Story". And she went on stage to seek her more shapely price than ever, her athletic silhouette having hit the headlines. "She was obsessed with her arms, and today the Daily Mail is bragging about her biceps", rejoices the French, from Fréjus (Var). A real consecration for the sports coach who has worked with the 53-year-old actress for more than three years.
Foued Douma met the actress, via Courtney Cox, with the mission of preparing her for the filming of the series "Big Little Lies". "In season 2, her character (Renata Klein) was more present, she needed to strengthen certain parts of the body for scenes, such as that where she fights in a swimming pool or another where she breaks objects", explains the 39-year-old Varois, who will begin a new specific training with the actress for her role in the next "Jurassic Park".
It was cinema and love that brought this bogus to Hollywood: sports coach in Monaco, he decided to go to Los Angeles in 2014, so that his wife, American, could continue his acting career . But for him, the beginnings far from the French Riviera were difficult. The first year, deprived of a work visa, he will devote himself to passing equivalences for his STAPS (Sciences and techniques of physical and sports activities) and his state certificates “profession of the form”, while learning English .
Obtaining the Green Card allows her to apply for the Equinox gym in Beverly Hills. But he quickly becomes disillusioned: “It’s completely different from the French system. We have a false status as an employee, you have to “knock down” the customers, and sell packages ” paid to the commission, describes the one who was disconcerted by his first salary of 170 dollars (for two weeks of work) “By chaining 80 hours a week”. Not to mention that, despite his ten years of experience, he finds himself in the same position as beginners in the training. But he holds out, and quickly climbs the ladder.
Fearing to meet “Chained to this room”, he leaves, after a year, at Unbreakable Performance Center, a VIP room where top athletes have their habits. “I learned a lot about how to work with athletes and celebrities, how to talk to them, how to deal with the psychological aspect; but also on the planning of sessions ”, boasts the one who was then paid with the slingshot. “In France, we are good technicians, pros of physiology. Here, they take into account the emotional and psychological side, develop and personalize the relationship. ” On site, he has the opportunity to coach celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez. “It was the woman I coached who most amazed me, she is a real killer, with a mentality of high level sportswoman”, cowardly Foued Douma.
Its slogan: “slowly but surely”
At the same time, he is developing his sports coach activity. A client, who works in the alternative medicine sector, will open the doors of show business for her. She will introduce her friend Courtney to her, who is none other than Monica's interpreter in the series "Friends". "We were doing physical maintenance together for two and a half years, she introduced me to a lot of people", says the thirty-something. His reputation is made by word of mouth, and he is led to train beautiful people in “extra”, including a former in his district, the footballer Adil Rami, after the World Cup in 2018-very invested, Foued Douma notably organized the retransmissions of the matches in Hollywood.
And yet the competition is tough in Los Angeles, where he rubs shoulders with “Best sports coaches in the world”. One of its strengths with VIPs: "Celebrities know they can trust me, confide in me … I'm a grave", assures the Varois. In just a few years, he has built up a loyal clientele, including many business leaders, his "favorite regulars". “Their goal is to decompress. For them, sport is a stress reliever ”, argues one who considers himself a “Go-getter”, ready to seize opportunities.
But training celebrities and CEOs is not an end in itself for this ambitious man. Foued Douma also wants his share of the American dream, wishing to draw inspiration from Joël Bouraïma, known as "coach Joe". "I'm trying to set up my gym in West Hollywood / Beverly Hills, the opening is scheduled before the end of 2020", he says, aspiring to create a franchise for the United States in the long term. Because, the Varois experimented with a technique, a concept which he kept secret. “My clients gave me a taste for business, they inspire me”, he admits. Besides, his investor is none other than a business manager whom he makes sweat weekly.
