The bus from Roissy – Charles-de-Gaulle airport parks in the Bercy covered station (12th century). Upon exiting the vehicle, tourists escape from this dilapidated hub – which will close after the Paris 2024 Games -, greeted by the tunes of French rap classics. “It looks like a scene from a film that takes place in prison,” says a Dutch traveler, as soon as she sets foot outside, in the Bercy park.
This is the scene that appears before her. Public bodybuilding facilities are taken by storm. Mamadou does pull-ups, weights attached to the belt. Ludo, hooded, does push-ups and Youssouf exercises his triceps on the parallel bars. All three men are athletes, their bodies sculpted, and stars on social networks.
The first has nearly 2 million subscribers on TikTok. Each of his sessions is broadcast live on his account. In the background, the hits of Kaaris and other successful rappers punctuate their exercises. “As I passed by, I said to myself that there were a lot of men and that it was potentially dangerous,” said a young woman.
“It’s free, we help each other and we move forward together”
At first glance, “we can shock”, assumes Ludo, “but we create a good atmosphere! » In his first year of higher education, Armand, 20 years old and originally from Val-d’Oise, trains two to four times a week on this street workout site set up around ten years ago. “The first time, I waited ten minutes before moving towards the structures, I didn’t dare,” remembers the young man, still impressed by his weight training partners.
Bercy Park (12th century), April 2024. Push-ups, pull-ups, bench press… Bercy bodybuilders train every day. LP/PA
“They are French, Malians, Syrians, Afghans”, lists “Medhy de Bercy”. Here, this former homeless person who works in transport is a bit like the sheriff of “Bercy Street Workout”, the “brother” for some, the “boss” for others. “We created this area with homeless people, people with immigrant backgrounds. It’s free, we help each other and move forward together, everyone is welcome. »
“It’s a Prison Break vibe but we’re not doing anything wrong”
Robert got to know them. This 54-year-old active Parisian was walking through the park during his running outings when he discovered the atmosphere that reigned around this spot which has now become a reference in France. Rap videos have been filmed there. “I live in the 13th arrondissement, I come to practice almost every day, they are very friendly. And I discovered rap sounds, I really like them! »
Bercy Park (12th century), April 2024. Every day, fitness enthusiasts, sometimes hooded, train. Their filmed exercises are seen live by thousands of Internet users. LP/Paul Abran
“We are not gangsters,” says Medhy. Travelers who get off FlixBus are impressed, it’s reminiscent of ghettos, in Harlem, it’s Prison Break atmosphere (two concrete walls of the station frame part of the land). But we’re not doing anything wrong. The police often come to see us, moreover, some athletes who train are police officers, soldiers, civil servants. » And the hood? “It’s for fun, the slightly anti-system side. Perhaps not ideal during the Vigipirate period,” he admits.
All material comes from the street
“I’ve already been told that I’m scary,” remarks Youssouf. But I take off the hood, I explain to them. I coach young people, girls too, who are taking up bodybuilding,” continues the athlete, who pushes a bar of around 105 kg. All the material comes from the street. “These are weights and construction bars,” smiles Mehdy.
Here, “the body is more than a sporting tool,” says the “boss” of the place. It is sculpted, worked like a work. The bodybuilders of Bercy were also photographed by the artist Marine Peixoto. His photos are exhibited at the BAL, a cultural platform located in the 18th arrondissement. L’expositionavailable until May 19, 2024, has even been labeled Paris 2024.
