August 28/29 – Weekend News
You don't want to miss out on any of the performances of our Paralympians in Tokyo? A brief summary of the main results is available here.
And what a weekend! The athletes supported by the Group's companies won no fewer than 6 medals.
Marie-Amélie Le Fur became a sporting legend by winning silver in the long jump (T64) – the last time she’ll be competing in this event – with a jump of 6m11, just 5cm short of gold. After this 9th Olympic medal, the athlete supported by the Caisse d’Epargne Loire-Centre will be able to devote herself fully to her role as President of the French Paralympic Sports Committee. (See the portrait of Marie-Amélie Le Fur).
Magic table
The weekend was also particularly successful for Para table tennis: a silver medal for Mattéo Boheas (Banque Populaire Foundation) in class SM10 and two bronze medals: Lucas Créange, supported by Crédit Coopératif, won a closely-fought match in class SM11 (adapted sport) and Maxime Thomas (Banque Populaire Alsace Lorraine Champagne) obtained his fourth Paralympic bronze, at 37 years of age, after winning team medals in 2008 and 2012, and the individual medal in 2016. All eyes are now on Fabien Lamirault (Caisse d’Epargne Côte d’Azur), titleholder in class SM2, who will be competing in his final on Monday.
Teamwork
In Para rowing, the mixed coxed fours team, which includes Erika Sauzeau, supported by Banque Populaire du Nord, won the bronze medal; a marvelous achievement for a woman who took up this sport less than two years ago!
By the skin of their teeth! Another bronze medal, narrowly won in the team event after a very close match, went to foil fencers Damien Tokaltian (Banque Populaire Aquitaine Centre Atlantique) and Maxime Valet (Banque Populaire Occitane – see his portrait), in wheelchair fencing.
No medal but a fine 4th place for the tandem formed by Thibaut Rigaudeau, supported by the Banque Populaire Foundation (see his portrait here), and his guide Cyril Viennot, in Para triathlon (PTVI). In the long jump class T34, Manon Genest also finished in 4th place, with a best jump of 4m40: inevitably a disappointing result for the athlete supported by CASDEN Banque Populaire.
Photo credit : Tuan Nguyen