Guillaume Dominguez, edited by Romain Rouillard
On the occasion of the 2023 Olympic and Paralympic week, which ends this Thursday, the French athletes selected for the Paris 2024 Games went to schools to discuss the theme of inclusion around disability. Illustration in Suresnes in the Hauts-de-Seine where Europe 1 went.
Under the dumbfounded gaze of CE2 and CM1 and the Estienne d’Orves school in Suresnes, in the Hauts-de-Seine, Sofyane Mehiaoui, leader of the French wheelchair basketball team, continues the dribbles. “It’s very impressive to see that he can do all that when I can’t even make a basket without being in an armchair”, exclaims a student. The 39-year-old came to discuss with these children the theme of inclusion around disability, as part of the 2023 Olympic and Paralympic week which ends this Thursday.
For an hour, the students were able to question him about his sport and his background. “I caught a disease called poliomyelitis. And suddenly, I can no longer use my right leg too much,” he explains. “But can I move around?” Then asks the athlete to the students who hasten to answer in the affirmative. “So for me, it’s not a problem to be in a wheelchair,” concludes Sofyane Mehiaoui.
“We are above all athletes”
A singular trajectory that commands admiration from an early age, like Sylvain, 9 years old, in CM1 class. “What impresses me is the morality. Which is not to give up, otherwise we’ll never get there. We still have to try”. So many reactions that make Sofiane Mehiaoui understand that her mission is accomplished. “The objective of this day is to make them understand that we are above all athletes before being disabled people. And that being disabled is not a excuse for not succeeding,” he said.
Credit: Europe 1/Guillaume Dominguez
After the exchange, all the students rushed to get a signed photo of the athlete. Sofiane Mehiaoui even promised to confront them soon in wheelchair basketball in the playground.