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VICTORY BELONGS TO THE MOST TENACIOUS
These words are prominently displayed at the French Open. It is believed that Napoleon said them first and later Roland Garros adopted the phrase. Not many people know the full story behind the man whose name is linked to one of the world's most legendary tennis venues. Roland Garros was a French aviation pioneer and a fighter pilot.
Although he is forever linked to a Grand Slam, Roland had little tennis experience, having played rugby and football as a child. His true passion was airplanes. In his early 20s, a friend took him to an air show, where he fell in love with airplanes. Determined, he taught himself how to fly even before obtaining his pilot's license.
Just four years later he set himself a goal of crossing the Mediterranean, which has never been done before. So, in 1913, he flew for nearly eight hours, setting a new record. When World War I broke out, Roland Garros joined the army and became one of the first fighter pilots. At that time fighter planes were minimally armed, so he innovated the first single-seater fighter plane equipped with onboard machine gun.
In 1915 he was captured and spent three years as a prisoner before escaping. Despite being in poor health, he returned to combat almost immediately. Roland Garros died in 1918 when he was shot in a battle, but he left behind an enduring legacy for innovation and determination. His words "Victory belongs to the most persevering" were always inscribed on his plane's propeller.
Ten years later Emile Lesueur, president of the Stade Francais, requested that the new stadium be named after his heroic former classmate Roland Garros.
So, while Roland Garros did not have a direct connection to tennis, the qualities he exhibited - drive, intelligence, and courage - are the same values that define the spirit of the sport. His legacy of perseverance serves as an inspiration to all who compete at the French Open, reminding us that greatness is achieved through determination and bravery, both on and off the court.
Anna
Founder and CEO of AD-IN
[email protected]
www.ad-in.me
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