“The visually impaired person is behind the guide. » This Monday, February 19, Vincent Mignon, 58, explains how a tandem, a two-seater bicycle, works to young people present in the multipurpose room of the Sainte-Savine medical-social center, in Aube. The former silver and bronze medalist in para-cycling at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games finds the right words to lighten the drama and make the young disabled people from the Chanteloup Institute gathered here want to overcome their situation.
“It requires a little bit of cohesion,” he continues. The advantage is that the two cranksets are connected by a chain, so that both teammates pedal at the same time. As a result, the visually impaired cyclist is reassured because he has someone in front who can see clearly… in principle! » The children’s laughter echoes in the room. Former high-level footballer (defender in the 2nd division at Chaumont in Haute-Marne from 1986 to 1990), Vincent Mignon practically lost his sight following a nosocomial infection during an ordinary appendicitis operation.
From this health accident was born his passion for tandem, which led him to multiply titles with his teammate Éric Guézo. Now a physiotherapist, “a profession adapted for people with a visual disability”, he also spends his long days playing golf. “It’s not a problem to be visually impaired or blind, you can work correctly even if you have a sensory disability. And I have four children, and two grandchildren! » A way of reminding us that we can also be successful in our family life.
Vincent Mignon is today in the company of Bernard Champenois, former Paralympic champion, para-cycling silver medalist in 2000 in Sydney. Disabled (and able-bodied) young people have their eyes glued to the latter’s medals and jerseys, right up to the photo of the presentation of the Legion of Honor to Bernard Champenois by the former President of the Republic Jacques Chirac. They do not miss a single crumb of the story of the two champions, translated into sign language for young people who are hard of hearing. “We have to explain to children that if an accident happens to us in life, we can have a good life again,” explains the champion.
An extraordinary life… after the accident!
“I had a good life from 0 to 18 years old. And from 18 years old to now, I’ve had an extraordinary life! », says Bernard Champenois. Eighteen years old is the age at which he had a very serious motorcycle accident. “Before,” he said, “I did high jump, I passed 2.02 m, I had a national level.” Badly operated on for a ruptured cruciate ligament, he has since had to deal with a stiff leg, which no longer bends at all. Inspired by Vincent Mignon’s adventure in Sydney, Bernard takes up cycling. The victories, the European and world titles, the Paralympic medals… the cupboard is full of trophies.
“And I have three children,” he proudly emphasizes in his turn. “Unfortunately,” he concedes, “with high-level sport, I wasn’t able to take care of them much, because it was more bike, work, sleep. Fortunately my wife was there! » The young 63-year-old retiree also presents his bike, equipped with a small adapted pedal that he himself made for his blocked left knee. “I only have one ankle movement, and that allows me to stay balanced on his bike. » Two testimonies strong enough to open up the field of possibilities for young people affected by a disability. “I got by in sport,” explains Bernard Champenois. For them, it will perhaps be in reading, computers, they have to find their way and, then, they will explode. My secret is a lot of work. You have to learn if you want to be able to do what you want. »
Children integrated into local schools
This meeting with the two disabled sports champions is the result of an educational project carried out around the Olympics, intended to bring together all the children and professionals from the Chanteloup Institute in Sainte-Savine, and to enrich the journal of the medical-social center. Here, young people aged 0 to 20 are welcomed, with three disabilities: motor, visual and hearing, and some are integrated into the local schools. Hence the presence that day of a class from the Jules Ferry school which welcomes a child suffering from motor problems in CE2. “It also shows schools that there is a center for the disabled, and that they are also capable of doing many things,” underlines Jérôme Walbrou, teacher of adapted physical activities.
Nelia, 17, suffers from a motor disability. In a wheelchair on the day of the conference, she nevertheless managed to get around, thanks to splints and a walker. “I do a little blowpipe,” she says, eager to show that practicing sports is not inaccessible for her. “What touched me (with these two champions) is their determination, they prove that they are capable of going far and that we too can do lots of things. »
