University of North Texas Athletics
Getting To Know: Emilie Ricaud
8/7/2020 2:00:00 PM | Women's Golf
DENTON - In an ongoing series, members of the UNT women's golf team will tell fans a bit about themselves, answering some questions about golf and some about off-the-wall topics. This week's installment is with sophomore Emilie Ricaud, who dishes on her unique, tiny home country and her love of skateboarding.
Q: How old were you when you started playing golf?
A: I think I started to hit some balls at the practice range when I was 4 years old.
Q: Why were you initially interested in playing golf?
A: I played golf because my father is a golf professional.
Q: Why did you keep playing golf? Was it just a matter of realizing you were pretty good or was it something more than that?
A: I think I kept playing golf because my classmates were playing, too, and we were at the same golf club, so we could practice together.
Q: What is your favorite thing about the game?
A: I like many things about golf. It gives opportunities to travel around the world, make new friends, and it is a very mental sport so you learn a lot about yourself.
Q: What is your favorite club in your bag?
A: My favorite club in my bag is my driver because it is the club I can hit it hard with!
Q: What is your favorite golf memory?
A: I have so many golf memories, but I have a few that stand out. When I played the France Championship in 2016, we traveled to France as a small group (maybe three girls?) and I went in the semifinals against my friend from New Caledonia. It was an intense match play, and I won on the 20th hole in a playoff. Also, another one is maybe when I shot my lowest four rounds last year during the Pacific Games. I was 13-under-par and won the gold medal.
Q: What is the best course you've ever played?
A: The best course I ever played was The Red Tiger at the Doral.
Q: What is your favorite hobby when you're not playing golf?
A: When I'm not playing golf, I love to play video games, mostly League of Legends, and I love skateboarding.
Q: Who has been your biggest inspiration through the years?
A: I think my biggest inspiration throughout the years is Paul Barjon, a Caledonian pro golfer who is playing on the (Korn Ferry) Tour.
Q: Why did you choose UNT?
A: I chose UNT because I got along great with the coach immediately, and I liked the golf program he offered with good challenges. The campus is big and the facilities are amazing, so it was a great opportunity.
Q: If you could have dinner with three people - dead or alive - who would it be?
A: I think it would be Tiger Woods, Paulo Dybala and Annika Sorenstam.
Q: You can take three things with you to a deserted island, what do you take?
A: I would take my laptop, sunscreen and a fridge full of food.
Q: What is the best movie ever made?
A: For me, the best films are all the movies made by the Ghibli Studio and filmmaker Ayato Myasaki like “Howl's Moving Castle” or “Princess Mononoke.”
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
A: I think it's “Lucifer.”
Q: How long did it take you to watch Tiger King?
A: I never watched Tiger King.
Q: Who is your favorite band or musician?
A: My favorite band is Linkin Park.
Q: Who on the team has the best taste in music aside from yourself? Who has the worst?
A: I like Marija's music taste, but coach definitely has the worst.
Q: Are you a dog or cat person? Do you have any pets?
A: I really like both, so I can't choose. My dog's name is Pod'colle, and I have two cats - June and Nala.
Q: What is your favorite food from your home country?
A: My favorite food from my home country would be the “salad de poisson au last de coco" (coconut milk fish salad) or the “salad de Cerf” (Deer salad) .
Q: What is one thing you'd tell people about New Caledonia who aren't familiar with your country?
A: New Caledonia is a tiny island in the Pacific between Australia and New Zealand. It is like a small paradise with blue sea and white sand but it also has many landscapes and mountains. The local food is amazing between meat, fish or local vegetables.
Q: How does your citizenship work? Are New Caledonians French citizens?
A: It's a bit confusing. We are “an overseas country” with our own president, so yes, we have our own election. But he doesn't take care of justice, defense or the state. New Caledonia can make its own laws, but in general, we are part of France. I am a French citizen with a French passport, and I can vote for the President's election in France. I have full rights as a French citizen.
Q: What is your favorite type of other food?
A: I am a food lover, so I like every type of food, but I will always love a good Phô soup.
Q: You just won the Par 3 challenge, which restaurant are you picking for the champions dinner?
A: I think I would pick Olive Garden, because I love pasta.
Q: You have one day left on Earth, what's your last meal?
A: For my last meal, I would eat an Indonesian Bami made by my grandmother.
Q: Favorite type of dessert?
A: Being French, I think my favorite desserts are macaroons or cream puffs.
Q: What was the biggest adjustment for you coming to the United States and what has been your favorite thing so far about being here?
A: When I came here, the biggest adjustment was the homework, maybe because we do not have a lot of time to do it between training and traveling, so you must be very well organized. But I really love the amount of time we practice during the week. I think it is amazing to be able to study and practice at the same time.
Q: Which of your teammates' home countries would you most like to visit and why?
A: My grandparents are from Indonesia, so I know how beautiful that country is. I think I'll go with Latvia because the landscape looks beautiful.
