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[[Image:Florent Lecoanet gold medal.jpg|thumb|Florent Lecoanet, by many considered to be the greatest Super Mario Kart player of all time]]

[[Image:Florent Lecoanet gold medal.jpg|thumb|Florent Lecoanet, by many considered to be the greatest Super Mario Kart player of all time]]

'''Florent Lecoanet''' (7/2/1984) is a French [[Mario Kart]] player and by many considered to be the greatest [[Super Mario Kart]] player in history. [http://www.ffsmk.org/?task=profile&member=16 Florent] has excelled in various multiplayer [[SMK]] events; he won 1 French title ([http://www.ffsmk.org/?task=results&year=2007 CDF 2007]), 1 European title ([http://www.ffsmk.org/?task=results&year=2008 CDE 2008]) and 5 World titles [http://www.ffsmk.org/?task=results&year=2009 CDM 2009], [http://www.ffsmk.org/?task=results&year=2010 CDM 2010], [http://www.ffsmk.org/?task=results&year=2011 CDM 2011], [http://www.ffsmk.org/?task=results&year=2013 CDM 2013] and [http://www.ffsmk.org/?task=results&year=2014 CDM 2014]).  

'''Florent Lecoanet''' (7/2/1984) is a French [[Mario Kart]] player and by many considered to be the greatest [[Super Mario Kart]] player in history. [http://www.ffsmk.org/?task=profile&member=16 Florent] has excelled in various multiplayer [[SMK]] events; he won 1 French title ([http://www.ffsmk.org/?task=results&year=2007 CDF 2007]), 1 European title ([http://www.ffsmk.org/?task=results&year=2008 CDE 2008]) and 5 World titles ([http://www.ffsmk.org/?task=results&year=2009 CDM 2009], [http://www.ffsmk.org/?task=results&year=2010 CDM 2010], [http://www.ffsmk.org/?task=results&year=2011 CDM 2011], [http://www.ffsmk.org/?task=results&year=2013 CDM 2013] and [http://www.ffsmk.org/?task=results&year=2014 CDM 2014]).  

Furthermore, Florent has been GP 150cc Champion of the World on [[PAL]] since March 2006, only overtaken very briefly once by [[Sébastien Holmière]] in the summer of 2006. He extended his GP dominance to [[NTSC]] in January 2007 and has not really been threatened there since. Florent currently holds a staggering total of over 500 World Records accross the numerous categories that the official [http://www.smkgp150cc.com/SOAaffiche_records.php?syst=PAL&Ref_group=5&m=OPEN&pays=0 GP website] recognizes.  

Furthermore, Florent has been GP 150cc Champion of the World on [[PAL]] since March 2006, only overtaken very briefly once by [[Sébastien Holmière]] in the summer of 2006. He extended his GP dominance to [[NTSC]] in January 2007 and has not really been threatened there since. Florent currently holds a staggering total of over 500 World Records accross the numerous categories that the official [http://www.smkgp150cc.com/SOAaffiche_records.php?syst=PAL&Ref_group=5&m=OPEN&pays=0 GP website] recognizes.  

Florent cruised to the final in the [[Time Trial]] event with relative ease, never really getting into trouble. One of the upsets of the tournament was that the big favourite for TT, [[Guillaume Leviach]], did not reach further than a bronze medal this year. Instead the traditional Sami versus Florent final happened once more, conducted on MC2 this time. Unlike [[Sami]], Florent was prepared to take extra risks to beat his opponent, performing the tricky Long Boost in the two opening laps. This created a big enough gap for Florent to win the first gold medal of the 2014 edition.  

Florent cruised to the final in the [[Time Trial]] event with relative ease, never really getting into trouble. One of the upsets of the tournament was that the big favourite for TT, [[Guillaume Leviach]], did not reach further than a bronze medal this year. Instead the traditional Sami versus Florent final happened once more, conducted on MC2 this time. Unlike [[Sami]], Florent was prepared to take extra risks to beat his opponent, performing the tricky Long Boost in the two opening laps. This created a big enough gap for Florent to win the first gold medal of the 2014 edition.  

Subsequently, Florent showed killer-form in the MR tournament all day long, disposing of [[Raphael Braun]], [[Matthias Boucher]] and [[Harold Christensen]] in the KO-stages to reach the final, winning 21 out of 26 races on the way. Particularly impressive were the item short-cuts that Florent was hitting; the highlight being a spectacular Long Boost-assisted feather-jump to the finishline at GV2 in the semi final, the likes of which have never been showcased before at a CDM event. Unsurprisingly, the final provided another Florent versus [[Sami]] face-off. Florent jokingly refers to these rivalry matches as "el Classico's" now (after the classic Barcelona vs Real Madrid showdowns in football). [[Sami]] started the match powerfully, taking a 5-2 lead with solid driving and strategy. Florent shook his nerves and clawed himself back into the match by applying a more daring style, trying to intimidate and put pressure on his opponent. This proved succesful as Florent ended the match with a string of wins to reach an 11-7 overall score and the gold medal. It should be noted that Florent was also helped back into the match with some luck: when [[Sami]] threathened to go 7-4 up, a lightning came to the rescue, one of two Florent would get this match. It was never as excessive as in the 2008 MR final though (that time [[Sami]] was helped by as many as 5 lightnings), therefore it was clear that Florent earned this victory mainly through superior ability.

Subsequently, Florent showed killer-form in the MR tournament all day long, disposing of [[Raphael Braun]], [[Matthias Boucher]] and [[Harold Christensen]] in the KO-stages to reach the final, winning 21 out of 26 races on the way. Particularly impressive were the item short-cuts that Florent was hitting; the highlight being a spectacular Long Boost-assisted feather-jump to the finishline at GV2 in the semi final, the likes of which have never been showcased before at a CDM event. Unsurprisingly, the final provided another Florent versus [[Sami]] face-off. Florent jokingly refers to these rivalry matches as "el Classico's" now (after the classic Barcelona vs Real Madrid showdowns in football). [[Sami]] started the match powerfully, taking a 5-2 lead with solid driving and strategy. Florent shook his nerves and clawed himself back into the match by applying a more daring style, trying to intimidate and put pressure on his opponent. This proved succesful as Florent ended the match with a string of wins to reach an 11-7 overall score and the gold medal. It should be noted that Florent was also helped back into the match with some luck: when [[Sami]] threathened to go 7-4 up, a lightning came to the rescue, one of two Florent would get in this match. It was never as excessive as in the 2009 MR final though (that time [[Sami]] was helped by as many as 5 lightnings), therefore it was clear that Florent earned this victory mainly through superior ability.

Florent entered the BM tournament already relieved of some pressure with 2 gold medals in hand. As the day progressed he was performing better than anticipated, reaching a 2nd place in the group stage. In the KO stages, Jey gave Florent a good fight at the start of the quarter final, but his opposition wasn't enduring. Sami did stumble in the quarter finals of BM again ([[Drew Blumfield]] being the executioner this year) and thus already needed a small miracle to still threathen Florent's overall win. Florent had to face [[Drew Blumfield]] in the BM semi final once more. The American had eliminated Florent at this stage several times in the past already, despite some ferocious attempts from the Frenchman. Florent managed to punish Drew's defensive negligence this time, shaking his demons from the past and bagging a surprising 9-6 win. For the first time ever, Florent had a serious shot at that elusive "Grand Chelem"*. However, his opponent in the final, [[Julien Holmiere]], proved to be of a different calibre altogether. Florent only got his first win in when Julien was 8-0 up and the final score of 11-2 did not lie.

Florent entered the BM tournament already relieved of some pressure with 2 gold medals in hand. As the day progressed he was performing better than anticipated, reaching a 2nd place in the group stage. In the KO stages, Jey gave Florent a good fight at the start of the quarter final, but his opposition wasn't enduring. Sami did stumble in the quarter finals of BM again ([[Drew Blumfield]] being the executioner this year) and thus already needed a small miracle to still threathen Florent's overall win. Florent had to face [[Drew Blumfield]] in the BM semi final once more. The American had eliminated Florent at this stage several times in the past already, despite some ferocious attempts from the Frenchman. Florent managed to punish Drew's defensive negligence this time, shaking his demons from the past and bagging a surprising 9-6 win. For the first time ever, Florent had a serious shot at that elusive "Grand Chelem"*. However, his opponent in the final, [[Julien Holmiere]], proved to be of a different calibre altogether. Florent only got his first win in when Julien was 8-0 up and the final score of 11-2 did not lie.

The GP tournament started with Florent comfortably in the lead. Only a very upsetting early elimination could still hold his overall win back. This scenario almost became reality, as Florent struggled to dispose himself of Salim in a hard fought 1/16 final. He had lost the 1st cup, but redeemed himself in the next two. The next match versus [[Matthias Boucher]] proved to be an even tougher challenge. After Matthias took a 2-1 lead in cups, Florent could not afford to lose a single more cup. Florent hang in there with his famous fighting spirit and managed to bring the match to a heavily contested 2-2. Mushroom cup would be the decider and this cup went all the way to the wire as well, with both players on match point at MC2. By then a big crowd had gathered around the TV, with the prospect of possibly watching SMK history in the making. Florent was trailing Matthias by roughly a second when he picked up the red shell he needed to seal the match. After this, another tough match awaited Florent in the semi finals versus his friend [[Geoffrey Label]]. Geo was performing to the maximum of his ability and was going toe to toe with Florent, just like [[Matthias]] in the match before him. As the match progressed Florent's form was picking up though and once he found his top gear he proved to be an unstoppable force, finishing with a 4-2 win. Another "el Classico" final awaited versus Sami (the third one that CDM). Sami had finally ended Florent's GP winning-streak the year before and Florent was keen on setting the record straight. Surprisingly, this proved to be Florent's easiest match of the KO-stage as he cruised to a 5-0 victory. The scoreline may have been a little deceiving, as Sami pushed him to the final track in almost every cup, but Florent certainly did not get into trouble once and showed the world who was truly the boss in SMK.

The GP tournament started with Florent comfortably in the lead. Only a very upsetting early elimination could still hold his overall win back and his CDM win was secured when he finished as group stage winner. However, Florent still had a lot to play for, as his GP winning-streak had ended the year before. This meant Florent was very keen on setting the record straight. Florent's KO-stage matches did not go smoothly, as he struggled to dispose himself of Salim in a hard fought 1/16 final. He had lost the 1st cup, but redeemed himself in the next two. The next match versus [[Matthias Boucher]] proved to be an even tougher challenge. After Matthias took a 2-1 lead in cups, Florent could not afford to lose a single more cup. Florent hang in there with his famous fighting spirit and managed to bring the match to a heavily contested 2-2. Mushroom cup would be the decider and this cup went all the way to the wire as well, with both players on match point at MC2. By then a big crowd had gathered around the TV, with the prospect of possibly watching SMK history in the making. Florent was trailing Matthias by roughly a second when he picked up the red shell he needed to seal the match. After this, another tough match awaited Florent in the semi finals versus his friend [[Geoffrey Label]]. Geo was performing to the maximum of his ability and was going toe to toe with Florent, just like [[Matthias]] in the match before him. As the match progressed Florent's form was picking up though and once he found his top gear he proved to be an unstoppable force, finishing with a 4-2 win. Another "el Classico" final awaited versus Sami (the third one that CDM). Surprisingly, this proved to be Florent's easiest match of the KO-stage as he cruised to a 5-0 victory. The scoreline may have been a little deceiving, as Sami pushed him to the final track in almost every cup, but Florent certainly did not get into trouble once and showed the world who was truly the boss in SMK.

*In 2007 Florent had technically come closer to performing the "Grand Chelem", winning 3 gold medals and only losing by mere seconds in the TT final. However, seeing TT is traditionally held on the first day, Florent never actually had a shot at it that year beyond day 1.

*In 2007 Florent had technically come closer to performing the "Grand Chelem", winning 3 gold medals and only losing by mere seconds in the TT final. However, seeing TT is traditionally held on the first day, Florent never actually had a shot at it that year beyond day 1.