He lived in Saigon until the age of twelve, when his parents sent him to Paris to study at the private Collège Stanislas de Paris. A severe bout of pneumonia interrupted his studies for a year. During this time, Garros convalesced in Cannes.
The convalescence was largely based on physical activity. Garros took up cycling and was interested in football, rugby and tennis. As a cyclist, he participated in and won the inter-school championships in that sport.
