And three for Arthur Bauchet. The 21-year-old French skier was crowned a third time, Sunday March 13, at the Paralympic Games in Beijing, in the slalom event (standing category), confirming the hopes placed in him for several years. His fourth charm of this edition, with bronze in giant slalom and gold gleaned in downhill and super combined.
“It’s magical to do it like that, especially on the last day. I started the Games in style, I end them in style, what more could you ask for? »rejoiced the interested party at the end of the race.
Tribute to Marie Bochet
France finished in fourth place in the ranking of these Paralympic Games with twelve medals (including seven gold), a third of them having been obtained by Arthur Bauchet. From there to see the skier, who had already won four silver medals during the previous edition in Pyeongchang (South Korea) in 2018, put on the costume of boss of the Blues?
“I don’t think you’ll ever be able to get me to say that!”he joked. I am a member of this France team. I tried to represent it as well as possible. »
But he concedes having “completely changed status” during this Paralympic edition. And he paid tribute to Marie Bochet, who was playing her last Games on Chinese soil. In Beijing, the eight-time Paralympic gold medalist settled for silver in the Super-G.
“These Games also show how Marie’s performances were just superhuman. Me, already with three gold, I feel like I’ve given so much, it’s crazy! And Marie with her four golds, on two different Paralympics, it’s just magic. »
As a reward for his performances, Arthur Bauchet, who suffers from spastic paraparesis – a disease that causes weakness and painful muscle contractures in the lower limbs – was chosen to be the standard bearer for the French team on Sunday evening. during the closing ceremony of the Games at the Olympic Stadium in Beijing, the “Bird’s Nest”.