Les Jardins de l’Effort
1917 — Almanach Olympique pour 1918
Imprimeries Réunies, S.A., p. 1–24
Les Jardins de l’Effort
The Complete Man:
“They are those [sports] that contribute to rescue, defense, and locomotion (running, climbing, jumping, throwing, swimming, boxing, wrestling, swordplay, rowing, horseback riding), those that make the complete man, calm, determined, débrouillard, with quick vision and conception, thoughtful and persevering execution.”
Context:
This is the only explicit use of débrouillard in the text, but it is central.
Coubertin names débrouillard alongside calmness and determination as essential traits of the “complete man” — the individual shaped by varied physical disciplines and moral development.
The débrouillard stands as a cornerstone of holistic formation, integrating skill, composure, and action under pressure.
Olympism as Energy + Will + Culture:
“What then is Olympism? It is the religion of energy, the cult of intensive willpower developed through the practice of virile sports based on hygiene and civic mindedness and surrounded by art and thought...”
Context:
Coubertin frames Olympism as more than physical prowess: it is a disciplined blend of energy, will, civic ethics, and cultural refinement.
Within this system, débrouillardise is not merely athletic; it is a cultivated capability combining physical endurance, ethical action, and intellectual breadth.
Archetypes of the Olympic Man:
“From these fundamental exercises will emerge the tireless gymnast, the offensive fencer, the fearless rider, the stubborn rower, the courageous and vigilant footballer...”
Context:
These athletic archetypes embody the traits of the débrouillard: multi-disciplinary strength, vigilance, courageous initiative, and sustained resilience across changing challenges.
Vigor + Ideal = True Olympic Formation:
“Thus will be formed the solid and vibrant beings capable of crossing the difficult regions into which humanity is entering. Vigor and the Ideal, resolutely united, are the only masters of the hour and it is in the Gardens of effort that they teach.”
Context:
Coubertin’s poetic close emphasizes that true preparation for the future requires a union of physical vigor and elevated ideals.
The débrouillard is not trained through narrow perfection, but through disciplined balance—cultivating strength, judgment, and responsibility for the world ahead.
Key Insight:
In Les Jardins de l’Effort, Coubertin fully integrates débrouillardise into the highest aims of Olympism. The débrouillard becomes not just a capable individual, but the embodiment of a broader human ideal — adaptable, ethical, and prepared to meet the challenges of a complex world through deliberate physical and cultural formation.
