Steve Louissaint – Take Control Now Podcast

In this episode of the Take Control Now podcast, I had the pleasure of welcoming Steve Louissaint, former professional basketball player and Lausanne-based physical trainer. With his infectious energy and legendary good humour, Steve shares a journey built on consistency, a passion for passing knowledge on — and an entrepreneurial transition that inspires many.

Who is Steve?

Steve Louissaint grew up in Yverdon-les-Bains, the son of Haitian parents who settled in Switzerland. Approaching 35 at the time of recording, he introduces himself simply: physical trainer, former basketball player, founder of Gym Poussette — and a proud father.

He is one of three Louissaint brothers, all three of whom represented the Swiss national basketball team. A rare fact that perfectly captures this family's DNA: a passion for sport ingrained from an early age, passed down through generations.

A Childhood Dream Turned Reality

Steve never had a plan B. From a very young age, he had one obsession: basketball.

"It was just basketball, basketball, basketball."

At 14–15, he joined the first team of Neuchâtel in the Liga. That's where it all began — gradually, training session after training session. Around 19, a first contract in Montaix allowed him to live solely from basketball, with no other activity on the side.

Years followed in Boncourt, Neuchâtel, then four seasons in Geneva — a club where he also got involved in the team's physical preparation — and a final season in Vevey. In total, over 15 years of career and 13 seasons with the Swiss national team, crowned with all three major trophies in Swiss basketball: the Championship, the League Cup, and the Swiss Cup.

The Key: Consistency, Not Motivation

For Steve, the difference between someone who dreams of going pro and someone who actually gets there comes down to one word: consistency.

"You wake up at 12 and tell yourself, right, tomorrow I'm going to be a pro. It gets built over years."

"It's easy to be motivated for a month, two months, three months. But staying motivated throughout the entire year — that's another story."

Training every day wasn't a sacrifice for him — it was a pleasure. While some friends were coming home from parties, he was off to play at 9am on his bike. That image says it all.

The Transition: Coaching in Secret, Then Going All In

It was in Geneva that Steve began coaching alongside his playing career — completely under the radar. On Saturday mornings, he ran training sessions with his first clients before heading off to play his match in the afternoon. His teammates had no idea.

"I hadn't told anyone. But it didn't affect my match performance — I had plenty of time to recover."

The end of his basketball career marked the shift to going 120% on entrepreneurship. He opened Louissaint Training, his physical training studio in Paudex (opposite the Lausanne ice rink), and developed Gym Poussette with his wife — fitness classes for new parents, now present in around fifteen cities with trained and certified coaches.

Alongside this, together with his mother, he founded the association Petit Pas Haïti, whose mission is to provide schooling for children in Haiti and support them through to obtaining a diploma. A concrete, small-scale initiative built on a powerful principle: each child helped commits in turn to helping someone else.

His Vision and Advice

• Consistency over intensity: it's better to do one hour of sport per week for life than to go all-in for a month and then nothing for a year
• Set a goal with a deadline: without a deadline, good intentions stay just that — good intentions
• Start without waiting: Steve regrets having hesitated before launching his ventures. What others think is a real barrier, but a greatly overestimated one
• Enjoy the present moment: during his career, he was always thinking about what came next. With hindsight, it's one of the pieces of advice he gives most often to young athletes
• Invest in your training: Steve has spent nearly CHF 30,000 on additional qualifications since his initial diplomas. For him, it's non-negotiable if you want to offer quality content

"Positivity attracts positivity. If you don't believe in yourself, you're not giving yourself every chance."

His Inspirations

• Jean-Pierre Héguer — physical trainer of Valerie Adams (Olympic shot put champion): a defining encounter during a training camp, where the intensity of the sessions opened his eyes to what training at a high level really means
• Arnaud Ferrec (Pro-FTS training programs) — transformed his approach to physical preparation
• Kobe Bryant — for his mindset, the mamba mentality, and his total commitment in training
• Muhammad Ali — for his mentality and his memorable one-liners
• Valérie Andrethot (mental performance coach, Geneva) — helped him work through confidence issues during matches

"After the rain comes sunshine." — his mother's phrase, which he tries to pass on to his athletes and his children.

Where to Find Steve

• Instagram: @louissainttraining
• Website: louissainttraining.com
• First session free for anyone who mentions the podcast — contact him directly via his website

Conclusion

Steve Louissaint's journey is a compelling illustration of what years of consistency and conviction can produce. From the kid in Yverdon who had nothing but basketball on his mind, to the coach and entrepreneur who gets hundreds of people moving every week, the through-line is the same: believe in what you do, show up every day, and don't wait to get started.

👉 A high-energy episode full of sincerity and solid advice — whether you're an athlete, an entrepreneur, or both.