Published on : 26/08/2021 – 09:00Modified : 26/08/2021 – 12:48
The young French cyclist Alexandre Lurée won the first gold medal for the French delegation at the Tokyo Paralympic Games by winning the final of the C2 pursuit. In weightlifting, Axel Bourlon won a silver medal.
The first French coronation at the Tokyo Paralympic Games was won by cyclist Alexandre Lurée on Thursday, August 26. The Breton, barely 20 years old, five-time world champion, won the final of the C2 pursuit by beating Australian Darren Hicks.
The Frenchman, hemiplegic from birth following a stroke, set a stunning time of 3’31”478 and at the same time broke the world record. “After 1,500 meters, it was only mental. It is thanks to all the encouragement (from a distance) if I was able to surpass myself today”, he reacted after his victory . “I felt confident but you can never be sure. I had a very big opponent in front (world champion in 2019)”.
Alexandre Lurée, who participates in his first Games, can double the stake on Friday in the kilometer, of which he is the reigning world champion.
Money in weightlifting
A few hours later, Axel Bourlon, the only French representative in this discipline, won a silver medal in weightlifting in the -54 kg category. The 30-year-old Roanne, who suffers from achondroplasia (dwarfism), has lifted 165 kilos. Thanks to him, the French delegation now has four medals.
With AFP
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