Thierry’s Socks

Thierry Lincou retired at the beginning of this month. Since then we’ve read about the Frenchman’s endurance (in the top ten for ten straight years, one of just four men to do that) and guts (saving that match ball in the fourth game against Lee Beechill in the 2004 World Open finals). 

But very little about his panache. Lincou was born and grew up on La Reunion, the famous Indian Ocean island. Two decades ago, about a fourth of my squash league team at my little two-court club outside of Cape Town was from Reunion. Fantastic, beautiful people.

Which leads to Lincou and his knee-high compression socks, the most interesting sartorial choice for male squash players in years. He started wearing them about five years ago, to help his aging legs he told me. It had both a post-modern look (especially when most other players have barely any sock showing) and a throw-back look, like a baseball player with the socks pulled up. 

Forty years ago, the Boston Open let its players were non-white clothing. Nowadays that seems normal. Maybe someday, Lincou’s innovation with the long socks will be common? 

 

http://www.thierry-lincou.com/FR/

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *