Tribute Profile
Marcel Fielding
Age: 50
District: 9
First Hunger Games: 41st, aged 16
Mentored By: Michelle Lopez (41st Games), Alexander Neville (75th Games)
Kills in the Arena: 4
Mentoring Record: 29 Games/ 1 Victors - Alexander Neville (60th Games)
Training Score: 7
Preferred Weapons: Dagger, Ice Pick
Stylist: Cassandra Shaw
In many ways, Marcel is an anomaly among victors.
After the Hunger Games, it is common for victors to spend a lot of time in the Capitol, as I'm sure you all know, either to return as mentors for the Hunger Games each summer or to spend time with their adoring fans. Most end up grabbing all the headlines, often for dangerous or controversial reasons; either that or for their involvement in the Hunger Games.
Marcel does neither of these things, yet we have come to know him like our own son just as well.
Despite having mentored for District 9 for almost every year since he became Nine's first male victor in the 41st Games, Marcel has never tried to usurp the attention his tribute may be garnering, or use his own name to boost his tribute's reputation. Indeed, his unique mentoring style has become known as the Fielding Technique; in front of the cameras, the tribute is who they are, with none of this overcomplicated (and, in his opinion, overhyped) bigging-up of his tributes as you would expect to see from other mentors, especially those from Districts 1, 2 and 4 who are often tripping over each other for sponsor support. You know how it always is; the speeches and interviews given by the likes of Velvet, Brutus, Finnick or whoever happens to be mentoring that year. Marcel just sticks to the facts and says things how they are. In a world where many mentors often sugar-coat the abilities of their tributes, Marcel is often said to be playing fair.
That's not to say that he hasn't had his successes; Marcel has mentored a lone victor, Alexander Neville, almost twenty years ago, when District 9 became one of four districts to win back-to-back Hunger Games (no prizes for guessing who the other three are!). Still, despite the buzz around him that summer and for the next few years, Marcel was always modest and quick to revert the attention back to his tribute.
Now, here's where things get a but strange. I'm sure that you are all aware of Marcel Fielding as a public figure, but for anyone who isn't by chance, then allow us to explain. Despite rejecting all opportunities to get in front of camera during the Games, he's barely away from it once the Games are over.
And this isn't just for the usual front-page antics of younger victors like Cashmere Adlington or Finnick Odair. This is something more refined, more sophisticated.
Respected panel show host Lucian Hayes once referred to Marcel as "an interviewer's dream... He answers all the right questions and then more." This isn't the usual victor who captivates us all but remains a person of their district, the focus always on themselves. Marcel seems genuinely interested in the ways of the Capitol .He is ever-approachable, charming to speak to, and will have something to say about anything. That's why we'll often find him on TV talking about something completely unrelated to the Hunger Games, in a way that only he can. Marcel has done what many victors can only dream of; he has successfully crossed the divide and has become a man of the Capitol.
Which is why, even though he is not the most athletic or most charismatic of the victors entering this year's Quell, he's going to be a favourite amongst us, the fans. For most of us, Marcel talked his way into our hearts decades ago, which is why his inclusion in this year's Hunger Games hurts more than most.
Still, as with his district partner, he stands a reasonable chance of success this year. Despite having turned fifty less than half a year ago, Marcel has lived a healthy, trouble-free lifestyle, having evaded the temptations of drugs or alcohol, unlike many victors of his age. He's still in good shape, and it looks like Marcel will be a real fighter once the gong starts tomorrow, especially given his impressive training score.
Sometimes, given his calm nature in the years following his victory, it is difficult to remember that Marcel was once a boy who fought off the boy from District 1 and the girl from Four using only an ice pick to claim victory at the end of his Hunger Games. But it's down there in the records, and what has happened once can happen again.
All of that means that tonight, Marcel's interview remains one of the people that we are all most looking forward to see in the City Circle tonight. Especially considering that, for a man who has lived so many years moving so effortlessly across our television screens, tonight's interview with Caesar Flickerman might just be his last.