She dreamed of being a firefighter, there it is, juggling what she calls “my three lives”. Multi-Medalist Paralympic Athlete – eight Games awards, including three gold; 12 podiums at the world championships – Marie-Amélie Le Fur is preparing Tokyo, while taking care of her little girl who will blow out her two candles this summer and by managing the destiny of the French Paralympic Committee, of which she is the president.
“My days are full, as the Games approach (Editor’s note: from August 24 to September 5), I will have to make more room for sports, but these different caps contribute to my life balance, she smiles. Thinking about the development issues of sport for people with disabilities allows me not to be focused on competition. It is a happy medium to be found in the nervous and mental energy that we leave in the work and the well-being that it brings. And I give my family a very important time. “
Improve accessibility to all forms of disability
This engaged 31-year-old woman knows it. As Paris prepares to enter its Olympiad, on the evening of the closing ceremony of the Tokyo Games, the challenges in terms of heritage are considerable, especially for disabled sports. “We have a lot of hope for these 2024 Games,” announces Marie-Amélie Le Fur. The level of maturity, knowledge and development of Paralympic sport is not that of the Olympic movement, these Games will be for us a unique opportunity to challenge the general public and communities. Because sport for people with disabilities is far from being a reality today. “
The leader hopes that things will evolve. “We have to offer a real sporting offer in all regions and, for that, we have to act on material and logistical brakes. These Paralympic Games in Paris should also be an opportunity to ask a question: how do we do tomorrow so that our cities allow people with disabilities to regain their autonomy? “
She insists: “Paris must become an experimental area so that tomorrow we can take a step towards universal accessibility to all forms of disability. We also need to think about the visibility, the recognition of our top Paralympic athletes commensurate with their investment in sport. “
The public elects the flag bearer
The election by the general public of the flag bearer at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, unlike the two Olympic Games which will be chosen by athletes, is part of this desire to change the outlook on disabled sportspeople. “These seven candidates (Editor’s note: Perle Bouge, Nantenin Keita, Sandrine Martinet, Souhad Ghazouani, David Smétanine, Stéphane Houdet and Pierre Fairbank) are the representatives of our values throughout their life journey. With this election (until June 30 on www.portonsled Drapeau.fr), we want the general public to go beyond the list of winners and take an interest in their history and their commitments. The medals tell something, years of work but also a fight in favor of disability. These ambassadors are men and women, but above all full-fledged high-level athletes. We really want to take the general public with us. “
Marie-Amélie Le Fur, who has recovered from several personal tragedies – an amputation at the age of 15 after a scooter accident, then the loss of a first baby at the end of pregnancy – knows the value of the commitment. In Tokyo, she will don several caps. First, that of an athlete conquering the podium in the long jump. “To protect the status of medalist, my role as president will be put on hold during part of the Games,” she smiles. Her first mission accomplished, she will then resume her pilgrim’s staff, determined to move the lines.
