Search
shop

No Taylor would equal big problem – Spivey a key for Vincent Luis

Vincent Luis has come a long way since Rio 2016, and girlfriend Taylor Spivey has played a huge part in his journey to leading contender for gold in Tokyo.
Editor-In-Chief
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

As Vincent Luis prepares to bid for Olympic Games triathlon gold in Tokyo later this month, everything in his life appears to be set.

The Frenchman has a strong core thanks to his coaching team and training partners, but there is another – perhaps more important – member of that squad. Girlfriend Taylor Spivey.

Luis now shares a home in Girona, Spain with United States professional triathlete Spivey. Clearly being in a relationship with somebody who understands exactly what the job entails has had huge positive benefits. Where he is now, is a far cry from the pain which followed the disappointment of a seventh place at Rio 2016.

Vincent’s childhood friend Marteau Matthieu summed up the impact Taylor has had on his life and career during the excellent Super League Triathlon documentary ‘INVINCIBLE: The One To Beat, which aired in the last week.

Advertisement

Taylor the most important thing

“For me, now he (Vincent) is good, because he has Taylor,” said Marteau.

“Taylor is the most important thing in this moment for him. He has a quiet life, and just focuses on the triathlon and Taylor also, and his family.

“If he doesn’t have Taylor, for me it will be a big problem.”

Spivey herself recounted how their relationship began, with a bet over a proposed coffee date.

“I’d always looked up to him but I’d never really met him until he started messaging me on social media. I knew that our team camp was gonna overlap in Flagstaff, we were both racing the relay.

“So he proposed a coffee date – he said if he won I would owe him a coffee, and if I won I said he would owe me two coffees. We beat him, so he took me out for a date in Flagstaff, and we’ve been together ever since.”

Spivey on Vincent Luis mentality

Like most great athletes, Luis has a supreme confidence in his own ability. Spivey knows him as well as anybody, and says that should not be mistaken for something else.

“I don’t think people think he’s cocky. I think people just think he’s confident and he’s there every day trying to give his very best. I think a lot of people have that respect for him.

“He’s been humbled many times, and he uses that as fuel to be the best athlete he can be. If someone beats him, he’s okay with that because he’s better on the day.”

Living the Girona life

Girona has proved the perfect base for Vincent and Taylor, as the Frenchman explained.

“We used to come here with Taylor for like a few camps. Joel my coach told me ‘you can go wherever you want’. I said ‘I like Girona – it’s nice, good weather, the people are relaxed and they have good food, good coffee so let’s go there again’.

“And we do that again, and we have good performances in Super League. She won the Super League in Mallorca and I won all the Super Leagues at the end of 2018.

Vincent Luis - Super League Triathlon Malta Equalizer win
Vincent Luis has enjoyed major success in Super League Triathlon (www.thatcamerman.com)

“I was like ‘we should not waste our money in renting places, let’s just visit some stuff, It’s crazy expensive, it’s a good place to live and we need to invest now’.

“We realised that we really liked this place and it could be a good base camp for us to go in between races and in between training camps overseas. We ended up here, slowly building our dream house, and living the Girona life.”

Graham Shaw
Written by
Graham Shaw
Graham has been involved with TRI247 & RUN247 since the summer of 2021. Since then he has provided strategic direction for all news and is passionate about the growth of triathlon as a fan sport.
Discover more
Dave Ellis / Luke Pollard - World Para Triathlon Championships Pontevedra 2023
Golden opportunity – British Triathlon launches search for LA2028 paratriathlon guides
IRONMAN Lanzarote 2024 - Anne Haug on run course
Best marathon shoes for Ironman – the ‘legal’ super shoes you CAN wear to level up your run split
Challenge Sanremo 2024 - Photo: Jose Luis Hourcade
How to fuel your triathlon training: Expert nutritionist tips to help you nail every session
swim start IRONMAN World Championship Kona 2024 photo credit Tony Svensson IRONMAN
Level up your Ironman swim split – must-read tips from an expert swim coach
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
latest News
Taylor Knibb 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Taupo New Zealand
US triathlon phenom Taylor Knibb hails great rival Kat Matthews for record-breaking IRONMAN Texas win
Richard Varga Jonny Brownlee Arzachena
Triathlon legend Jonny Brownlee reveals ‘Last Dance’ motivation behind latest challenge
IRONMAN Kona 2022 Age Group Results
How will “re-imagined” IRONMAN World Championship at Kona actually look for Age Groupers?
Lucy Charles-Barclay IRONMAN World Championship Kona 2023 Finish
IRONMAN World Championship goes ALL IN on Kona again with men and women to race on same day from 2026
Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews on the run at the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship
Nice gets consolation prize of 70.3 Worlds after IRONMAN World Championships return to Kona
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...