Frédéric Soogree, the quiet strength behind Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel
When he is not busy repairing air-conditioning systems, carrying out plumbing work or ensuring the smooth operation of the facilities at Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel (LWH), Frédéric Soogree can be found training in competitive arm wrestling. The maintenance employee recently achieved an outstanding result by winning two silver medals at the 2026 Africa Armwrestling Championships, held in Accra, Ghana, in early May.
Crowned African runner-up in both the left-arm and right-arm categories, Frédéric returned from his first international competition with a deep sense of pride and an even stronger desire to push his limits further. “It is a great source of pride for my family, my colleagues at Eclosia, Ninety-Six Hotel Collection and Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel. Their support helped me tremendously. I could not have reached this level without them,” he says.
Yet nothing seemed to predestine him for such a rise. Arm wrestling is still a relatively new sport in Mauritius, and Frédéric only discovered it in 2024. Already passionate about strength training, he quickly realised that the sport is far more technical than it appears. “Many people think only the arms are involved. In reality, it requires the whole body. You need strength, endurance, technical skills and attention to every detail.”
His progress was swift. Competition after competition, he consistently finished among the top three. Just two years later, he stood on a continental podium after facing some of Africa’s top arm wrestlers: competitors from Togo, Mali, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and Cameroon, including the Cameroonian athlete he met in the final.
Held in Accra, the championship brought together nearly 400 athletes from around twenty African countries. In this highly competitive environment, Mauritius achieved its best continental campaign to date by breaking into the African top 10 and finishing 10th overall. Frédéric Soogree played a key role in this historic achievement thanks to his two silver medals in the Senior 85 kg category.
Behind these results lie countless hours of training. Two to three times a week after work, and sometimes even after midnight, Frédéric continues his preparation. “You need perseverance and motivation, especially on the days when you don’t feel like training,” he explains.
At LWH, he successfully balances his profession with a sport that demands both physical and mental strength. Equally effective with both his right and left arm, he has also become one of the leading figures in the growth of Mauritian arm wrestling, a discipline that continues to gain popularity across the island.
But Frédéric’s focus extends beyond competition. Keen to share his passion, he is also actively involved in introducing arm wrestling to young people through visits to schools. For him, it is a way of promoting a sport that remains relatively unknown in Mauritius while inspiring the next generation of athletes.
Now qualified for the 2027 World Championships, Frédéric Soogree is already looking ahead to his next challenge. Behind his two silver medals, he sees above all a source of motivation to keep improving. “Now I’m aiming high. I have to go even further,” he says. It is a philosophy that has already taken him onto the African stage and could well lead him onto the world stage tomorrow.