Not very familiar with squash? Neither were we. Then we met Victor Crouin…
At 26, the French athlete from Toulon is ranked world No. 5 in a sport that remains relatively under the radar in France. In the Bay Area for the Silicon Valley Open, held October 20–24 in Redwood City, he spoke with MerciSF about his journey, from his first rallies with his father to his years at Harvard, and his ultimate goal: winning an Olympic medal at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
Beyond his achievements on the court, we met a young man who is as engaging as he is passionate, thoughtful, approachable, and quietly determined.
In Redwood City, Among the World’s Best
Some of the world’s top squash players are gathering this week at Squash Zone in Redwood City. The Silicon Valley Open presented by Oracle NetSuite, a PSA Gold tournament, brings together 48 international athletes competing for a total prize purse of $260,000, split equally between the men’s and women’s competitions.
Played on an all-glass court, the tournament follows in the tradition of the Oracle NetSuite Open, which was held for many years in San Francisco, notably along the Embarcadero.
For Victor Crouin, this California stop holds special significance. Last year, he defeated the world No. 1 here before reaching the final. This year, he returns hoping to win the title and move closer to the world’s top four.
That ambition goes well beyond this tournament: entering the Olympics ranked among the top four could give him a more favorable seeding in Los Angeles in 2028.
A Family Story, From Toulon to Harvard
For Victor Crouin, squash has always been a family affair. His father, a passionate player himself, began taking him to competitions at an early age. Victor picked up a racket at six and progressed quickly, eventually joining the CREPS sports training center in Aix-en-Provence during high school.
His father gradually became his coach, but also an educator who taught him to be independent from an early age. Managing finances, handling communications, analyzing performances: nothing was left to chance. After every tournament, young Victor even had to write his own recap for social media. It was a way to reflect on his game while improving his writing skills.
After high school, he headed to the United States. From 2018 to 2022, Victor studied economics at Harvard, where he could continue competing while preparing for life beyond professional sports.
“Until I was 18, squash was my whole life, all day, every day. Harvard opened my eyes to the fact that there was more to life than that.”
There, he discovered a new side of his sport: team spirit. Although squash is an individual discipline, the collective nature of American college athletics gave him a different perspective on competition. And like many French expatriates, he quickly found a sense of belonging through Harvard’s French Club, a community where he could share his language, humor, and, of course, his appreciation for good food.
Strategy Over Power
Now ranked world No. 5, Victor Crouin has developed a distinctive playing style. Smaller and less powerful than many of his opponents growing up, he learned to compensate through tactical intelligence.
“In the end, it was a gift, because it allowed me to develop other skills, including strategy and game intelligence.”
Squash, he explains, is almost a three-dimensional sport. The side walls and back glass create countless possibilities for ball trajectories, movement, and anticipation.
Today, he and his father take video analysis to another level, studying opponents and developing specific strategies for each match. The approach has paid off: he has beaten every player in the world’s top 10.
His next challenge? Beating them more consistently and breaking into the top four, a strategically important position ahead of the Olympic Games.
Los Angeles 2028: The Goal of a Lifetime
Squash’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic program marks a historic milestone for the sport. After several unsuccessful bids, including an attempt to join the Paris 2024 Games, squash will finally make its Olympic debut.
Victor Crouin himself was involved in efforts to bring squash to Paris. When the first rumors about Los Angeles emerged, he initially refused to believe them. Now, there is no doubt: his entire preparation is focused on July 2028.
Crouin was selected by France’s National Sports Agency (Agence nationale du sport, ANS) for its “Ambition 2028” program, which supports French athletes identified as strong medal prospects for the Los Angeles Olympics. This support has notably enabled his father, who has coached him since childhood, to secure a full-time coaching contract beginning in August 2025. It is a significant step for Victor, who can now prepare for the Olympics alongside his father on a daily basis.
Their team also includes national coach Mathieu Castagnet and mental performance coach Ingrid Petitjean, a former Olympic sailor, who help develop a training program tailored to his needs.
The objective is clear: arrive in Los Angeles in peak condition, with a ranking that will give him the best possible position in the Olympic draw.
“It’s an immense source of pride. It’s the goal of a lifetime.”
When asked what he imagines as he pictures himself on an Olympic podium, Victor immediately goes back to his childhood. To the French champions who inspired him, Thierry Lincou, Grégory Gaultier, and Camille Serme. And to the little boy who was already telling his grandparents that he would become a professional squash player, a world champion, and world No. 1.
An Olympic medal would also be a way to honor everyone who has supported him along the way.
San Francisco: One Last Stop Before the Olympics?
The Bay Area could play a role in Victor Crouin’s preparations for Los Angeles 2028. The French champion is considering organizing a weeklong pre-Olympic training camp in the San Francisco area before heading to the Olympic Village in Los Angeles. The idea? Train in a quieter environment, away from the excitement and distractions of the Games, and fine-tune the final details.
His team has already begun exploring training facilities and accommodation options. And Victor knows the area well: he has been coming here for three years to compete in the professional squash tournament. His girlfriend is French-American, and some of her family members live in Palo Alto. Those local connections could help make this final training camp possible.
For the Bay Area’s French and Francophone community, it could be an opportunity to rally around a French athlete ahead of a major milestone in his career.
In the meantime, Victor Crouin continues his climb toward the very top of the world rankings. With a clear objective, a close-knit team, and an Olympic dream that, after years of waiting for the sport of squash, is finally within reach.
Thank you, Victor!
Silicon Valley Open 2026 — Event Details
Dates: October 20–24, 2026
Location: Squash Zone, 3586 Haven Avenue, Redwood City
Finals: Saturday, October 24, at 7 PM
Tickets and schedule: https://siliconvalleyopen.com/
