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A professional athlete and trail-running coach for over a year, Matthis Granet (who graduated the Grande École Program in 2021) is hard to catch. He has turned his passion for pushing his limits into a career, sharing his love of sport with others and living by his belief that effort always pays off. He took a break between two runs to tell us about his journey – built one kilometre at a time – and the many projects he has ahead.

What made you choose IÉSEG after graduating from high school?

IÉSEG has an excellent reputation among business schools. I was convinced that its broad curriculum would offer me many opportunities – through internships and the possibility of taking part in an international exchange program. Now that I’ve graduated, I can say my intuition was right: these five years helped me discover myself, grow in every aspect of my life, and build a career path aligned with my values and ambitions.

When did you discover trail running?

I first tried it when I was 13, during a family holiday in La Clusaz. I took part in a Vertical Kilometre race – the winner that day was none other than Kilian Jornet, one of the best in the discipline. Although I really enjoyed the experience, it didn’t immediately click. It was only during my second year at IÉSEG that I started running seriously again. At the time, I was captain of the IÉSEG tennis team in Paris. Gradually, running began to take up more space in my life – until I eventually decided to make it my profession.

When did you decide to turn your passion into a career?

In 2024, Stanislas GRUAU – my former manager and a true connoisseur of the sports industry – was the one person who convinced me to try my luck as a professional. He put me in touch with Fraich’TOUCH, his agency for talents and athletes, which helped me sign my first sponsorship contracts. Today, about half of my revenue comes from my coaching activity at the Running Academy, where I train 35 athletes. I also plan to take the mountain guide exam to diversify my sources of income.

How do you see yourself evolving as an athlete in the years to come?

I want to develop my mountain trail and coaching activities, as I truly enjoy sharing my passion with others. I aim to specialize in ultra-trail running as well, and keep pushing my limits. I took part in the SwissPeak 700 last year – an incredible experience – and I’m training to become one of the best in these long-distance races (over 200km). Finally, I intend to continue my non-profit project, which takes on sporting challenges to raise funds for charities (more than €8,000 raised so far).