Cyril Julian

Club career

Julian began playing at age 15 in Nationale 3 with Tarbes, then joined SLUC Nancy in the elite French league. After four seasons there, he moved to PSG Racing for two seasons before returning to Nancy. During his time at Nancy, he played alongside Laurent Sciarra and, in his second stint, with Tony Parker during Parker's professional debut. In the 2001–2002 season, Nancy won the Korać Cup against Mineralnye Vody, and Julian was named MVP.

He then signed with Pau-Orthez, where the Boris Diaw generation and the Piétrus brothers played their final season. He returned to Nancy, which had just reached the French championship final. Nancy reached the final again but lost to Le Mans, despite Julian recording 18 double-doubles and winning the French MVP title. In 2006–2007, Nancy lost a third consecutive final to Roanne, and Julian earned his third French MVP award after averaging 14.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, and a 19.7 evaluation.

National team career

Julian debuted for the senior French national team in 1996 against Lithuania, after playing with the French junior team. He became a key player, participating in the 1997 European Championships and the 1999 European Championships in France, where France finished fourth and qualified for the 2000 Olympics. At the 2000 Olympics, France struggled in the first round but advanced after Canada defeated Yugoslavia. France then beat Canada in the quarterfinals and Australia in the semifinals, before losing to the United States by ten points in the final.

In 2001, France placed sixth. At the 2003 European Championships, France, featuring NBA players Jérôme Moïso, Tariq Abdul-Wahad, and Tony Parker, lost to Lithuania in the semifinals and then to Italy in the fourth-place match, ending hopes of Olympic qualification. At the 2005 European Championships in Serbia, France eliminated the host nation and defending champion Lithuania before facing Greece. France led by seven points with 47 seconds left but lost 67–66.

France then defeated Spain to win the bronze medal. The 2005 campaign earned France a spot in the 2006 World Championships, where Julian hoped to end his international career. However, coach Claude Bergeaud selected Johan Petro instead. Julian then announced his retirement from the national team, though in 2008 he did not rule out a return, stating it could not happen during qualifying for the 2009 European Championship as he planned to have foot surgery.

Post-playing career

Julian retired from professional sports in June 2009. He works as a speaker for companies on performance, stress management, and high-level achievement. In September 2014, with two partners, he opened a center under the En Formes brand, specializing in care and sports rehabilitation for obese people.

Julian's working method in adapted sport is recognized in the medical world. He works for the SOS santé group hospitals and for dialysis patients of the ASA. Julian is now a triathlete, competing in Ironman 70.3 and 140.6 events, and aims to complete the trilogy of extreme triathlons: the Norseman, Celtman, and Swissman.