At noon, Paris 2024 will lift the veil on a large part of the 11,000 torchbearers who, from May 8, will carry the Olympic flame throughout the country. Among them, Benjamin, 43 years old. This violinist, who has been disabled for around twenty years, loves to challenge himself.
“I was very surprised”
Between two violin lessons, Benjamin Ducasse receives us in his office at the Deuil-la-Barre conservatory in Val-d’Oise. At 43, the man who defines himself as a hyperactive lazy person did not expect this selection. “I was very surprised,” he says after learning that his wife had sent in her application. “[Elle m’a dit] that I ticked all the boxes! I told him: ‘I’m not checking any boxes, what are you talking about?'”, he continues at the microphone of Europe 1.
However, Benjamin is an example. In a skiing accident more than 20 years ago, he partially lost the use of his legs. He struggles every day to walk with simple crutches. “I support myself, in every sense of the word. I don’t know if we can one day accept this handicap, but in any case we can endure it. And I find that these values match those of many athletes, to endure, to persevere, to surpass oneself,” he says.
“I like sporting challenges”
Surpassing oneself is a bit of his leitmotif. “I like sporting challenges. I liked getting back into skiing, cycling. I have no feet, no legs, how do I do it? Well, I’m making do. And I see how far I am able to go,” he slips. Although he still does not know when and where he will carry the flame, this seasoned violinist, who has notably toured with the American Melody Gardot, wants to share this moment with his little tribe, his partner and their five children.