At 47, suffering from multiple sclerosis, Cécile Hernandez won her first Olympic title in Beijing. Arthur Bauchet, 21 and suffering from spastic paraparesis, won the gold in super-combined.
A day with two gold medals at the Paralympic Games in Beijing. Arthur Bauchet won a gold medal at the Beijing Games on Monday, where Perpignan snowboarder Cécile Hernandez won her first title in tears.
With a smile on his lips, the jovial 21-year-old sportsman, originally from the Var and licensed at the Briançon ski club, let out a cry of joy at the finish of the super combined, which combines a speed test (Super-G) with a technical test (slalom). “It’s just crazy to be able to ski here, after four years of preparation, it’s just awesomehe reacted. This medal, I really went to get it. It’s perfect, even if physically it was very hard. »
His legs also gave out just after the finish. The athlete, who evolves in the standing category, suffers from spastic paraparesis, a disease which causes weakness and muscular contractures of the legs. Four-time silver medalist at the PyeongChang Games and double world champion in Lillehammer earlier this year, Arthur Bauchet beat Finland’s Santeri Kiiveri and New Zealand’s Adam Hall.
Earlier, French snowboarder Cécile Hernandez, from the resort of Les Angles in the Pyrenees, won the gold medal in snowboard cross on Monday. The 47-year-old sportswoman finished ahead of Canadian Lisa Dejong and American Brenna Huckaby. Already world snowboard cross champion in Lillehammer at the start of the year, Cécile Hernandez won her first Paralympic title in Beijing after several medals in Pyeongchang (2018) and Sochi (2014).
“I am very moved, because I really wanted this medal. It’s been big fights and a lot of sacrificessaid in tears the athlete with multiple sclerosis. This medal, I dedicate it first to my mother, because I lost it just before taking the start (for Beijing). I look up to the sky for her. It is very important to show that we can overcome the barriers that multiple sclerosis imposes on us. »
France is now fifth in the medal standings (four including two gold) at these Paralympic Games.
Updated at 4 p.m. with Arthur Bauchet’s medal.