He was one of the adventurers contacted to participate in Koh-Lanta, The legend, currently being broadcast on TF1, but it was not in the end. At the time, that had pissed him off and he had let it be known, but when we met him at the beginning of the summer, everything seemed to have been forgotten. The forties Norman can also proudly claim his record: he left season 4, in 2004, at the end of the orienteering test and then won in 2009 in Return of the heroes.
What has “Koh-Lanta” changed for you?
Koh Lanta made me mature. I thought it was already installed but it still developed considerably, especially after my first participation in 2004 which was rather a failure, even though I finished fourth. I was able to bounce back easily, improve my state of mind, my mental strength, my values. I exploded at Return of the heroes that I won. I am much more patient and I have learned a sense of the collective, the importance of sociability.
What is the question that people who recognize you in the street ask you most often on “Koh-Lanta”?
Wasn’t that too hard? Do you have any news from the adventurers of your season? Are you sure you’re not being sneaked in to eat?
What is the question that you are never asked and that you would have liked to answer?
It is true that I would like us to be a little more picky on the questions. I would have liked to be asked if the nights are good at Koh Lanta or how we did when it was raining a lot.
This is the opportunity to answer them …
We will say that the first nights, the first two weeks, it is always difficult because the adaptation is hard. There is fatigue, the stress of trials and eliminations is omnipresent, so the nights are hectic. Regarding the weather, we didn’t care. When it rained heavily, our comfort was secondary, the priority was to protect the fire. This is where the collective takes on its full meaning.
What is your strongest memory?
I won a comfort test that allowed me to discover a family living in an isolated house on the edge of the Amazon. She made her cassava juice. I found it extraordinary. They were so authentic, they gave off an impression of happiness when they had next to nothing. I loved this passage.
Have you kept in touch with the candidates for your season?
Yes, as far as adventurers from other seasons are concerned, I admit that after Return of the heroes, I quit the Friday viewings a bit – I often work those nights. I kept in touch with adventurers from 2009 and 2004.
You no longer follow the new seasons of “Koh-Lanta”?
I looked at the last two because there were two Caennais, Dorian and Aurélien. I knew them before. I am the boss of the gym where they train. I didn’t expect to find them on the show. I remember Aurélien sent me a message in 2015 asking me for advice because he had always wanted to do Koh Lanta. He wanted help with his cover letter.
Next Monday: Amel, winner of season 2 and candidate of the Return of the heroes.