2023-11-13 16:00:06
The French para surfing team won the title of world champion in California in Huntington Beach for the first time in its history.
The Blues, masters of para surfing. It’s done. France wins the eighth edition of the world championships in the discipline played in California in recent hours. On the waves of Huntington Beach, French surfers have managed to reach the finals of these Worlds 11 times.
A historic world title and three silver medals
The most beautiful tricolor medal remains that of Laurie Phipps. At 22, the surfer flew through the final, winning the first international title of her career. This is the first in the history of French para surfing. “I don’t really realize it. When you come out of the water and there’s everyone applauding, everyone there to congratulate you, it’s one of the most beautiful things that can happen to anyone,” she remembers.
Starting as the big favorite, Thomas Dasilva badly negotiated a turn which took away the supreme title. He leaves this competition with silver, like last year. As for Eric Dargent, he once once more climbed onto the second step of the podium. Just like Valentine Moskoteoc, world vice-champion for the second time at just 13 years old. With her guide François Gouffrant, the young Frenchwoman took a lot of risks by setting off on some of the biggest waves of the final. For his part, not benefiting from a spot conducive to his real abilities, Pierrot Gagliano might not do better than winning bronze.
All these performances, added to the places of honor of all the team’s surfers, allow the French team to become world champion of nations for the first time in its history. “A reward for this group which has been built for months around repeated training to reach the top. This title is also that of all the educators who work in clubs to detect and train French para surfers. It is that of a federal vision and a total commitment alongside the National Handi Surf Association for inclusive surfing”underlined the French Surfing Federation. Now, the French await the imminent decision of the International Paralympic Committee to include para surfing in the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
French medals
Laurie Phipps: world champion Stand 2 ladies
Eric Dargent: vice-world champion Stand 3 men
Thomas DaSilva: vice-world champion V1 men
Valentine Moskoteoc: vice-world champion V1 ladies
Pierrot Gagliano: bronze medal V2 men
Lou Méchiche: bronze medal V2 ladies
Céline Rouillard: ladies bronze medal
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