Christine Catin and Sylvie Cottet, two inhabitants of Ain, won the Raid Amazones duo, organized in Sri Lanka. They returned to France this Wednesday, March 29.
Challenge met. Christine Catin and Sylvie Cottet, two inhabitants of Ain, won the Amazon Raid in duo, in Sri Lanka. The sports competition took place from March 19 to 27, and the two sportswomen returned on Wednesday March 29. They were competing for the association “Head held high”, in support of Marin.
Nearly 8,500 kilometers away from their region, Christine and Sylvie were among the 220 amazons who competed for six days, in several disciplines: mountain biking, canoeing, trail running, archery, running and cycling… They have won a majority of challenges. Their title in hand, they are back in France, but are still on their cloud: “It was an exciting human and sporting adventure, we were amazed by the population and the landscapes, and we surpassed ourselves to go to the end of the adventure! It was powerful, emotionally”, says Sylvie Cottet.
The two competitors trained intensely for the raid. Originally from the village of Saint-Jean de Niost, in Ain, they got to know each other through sport, and thrive in sport. They have been trail running for 15 years, and have participated in multiple competitions. Christine Catin is an administrative agent at the town hall, and Sylvie Cottet, commercial director in a company.
They took up this challenge for themselves, but also for the association “La tête haute”, founded after the tragedy suffered by the young sailor in 2016. The student had been the victim of an attack, in Lyon, when he intervened to support an importuned couple. The blows he had received had caused serious injuries. He still has heavy physical, neurological and psychological consequences from his attack.
Marin followed their journey every day, and was present this Wednesday on the station platform to welcome Christine, the first to return home. “We had met them, and quickly, we thought that they would go far”, says Marin’s mother. “They trained in the rain, they were very determined. They are really amazing.”
By taking up the challenge of the Amazons, the two competitors were able to put the spotlight on the association, and raise funds to support it. “We fell into each other’s arms”, explains Christine, who has just returned from Sri Lanka. “He followed us the whole raid.”
