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Perpignan snowboarder Cécile Hernandez won the first Olympic title of her career aged 47 while young Arthur Bauchet, 21, won a second gold medal in alpine skiing.
He is establishing himself as the next generation in Paralympic alpine skiing: Arthur Bauchet won a second gold medal at the Beijing Games on Monday March 7, where Perpignan snowboarder Cécile Hernandez won, in tears, her first title at the age 47 years old.
With a smile on his lips, Arthur Bauchet, originally from the Var and licensed at the Briançon ski club, gave a cry of joy at the finish of the super combined, the event of the day.
“It’s just crazy to manage to ski here, following four years of preparation, it’s just great,” he reacted. “This medal, I really went for it.”
“The objective was to break everything in the first round (…). It’s perfect, even if physically, it was very hard”, explained Arthur Bauchet, whose legs gave way following the arrival.
The athlete, who evolves in the standing category, suffers from spastic paraparesis, a disease which causes weakness and muscular contractures of the legs.
Quadruple silver medalist at the Pyeongchang Games at the age of 18 and double world champion in Lillehammer earlier this year, Arthur Bauchet beat Finland’s Santeri Kiiveri and New Zealander Adam Hall.
The super combined combines a speed test (Super-G) with a technical test (slalom) and therefore rewards the most versatile athletes.
The tears of joy of Cécile Hernandez
Another great joy of the day on the French side with Cécile Hernandez, who at the age of 47 won the first Paralympic title of her career, in snowboard cross.
“I’m very moved, because I really wanted this medal. It was a lot of fights and a lot of sacrifices,” said the sportswoman with multiple sclerosis in tears.
“This medal, I dedicate it first to my mother, because I lost it just before taking the start (for Beijing). I look to the sky for her.”
The Perpignanaise is also happy, with her title, to prove the resilience of people affected by her illness.
“It’s very important to show that we can overcome the barriers that multiple sclerosis imposes on us,” she concluded.
Disappointment for Marie Bochet
Disappointment on the other hand for the French star of Paralympic alpine skiing, Marie Bochet, still on the super combined.
Third following the first Super-G event, she finally finished fifth following an error during the slalom which caused her to lose precious seconds.
“There is a lot of frustration,” said the eight-time Paralympic champion, silver medalist the day before in the Super-G.
“I felt it a little in training that things weren’t going very well in slalom. Afterwards, it’s silly mistakes. It’s slalom, it’s going fast.”
The same mishap happened to Hyacinthe Deleplace (visually impaired category), leading the Super-G heat but only fifth in the end following the slalom.
Oscar Burnham and Manoël Bourdenx end up 10e and 12ewhile Jules Segers did not finish the race.
France is now fifth in the standings with five medals (three gold, one silver and one bronze).
With AFP
