Michel Boudon, a long-time advocate for disability sports in the Seine-et-Marne region, received the title of Chevalier of the National Order of Merit during a ceremony in Trilport on October 8, 2026.
A Ceremony in Trilport
The ceremony took place at the gymnasium of La Noyerie in Trilport, attended by friends and colleagues from across France. Reflecting on the honor, Boudon expressed humility, noting that he viewed the distinction as a collective achievement shared with those who had supported his initiatives over the past 40 years. When he was first notified of the nomination in June 2026, he initially questioned if the news was intended for an individual with the same name, as reported by La Marne. Ah c’est bien pour moi ? Pas pour un homonyme, hein ?
he asked upon receiving the initial announcement. He further described the atmosphere as un moment convivial, amical, fraternel, sportif, familial… Il y avait beaucoup d’émotions, des amis sont venus des quatre coins de la France.
The Path from Recovery to the Tatami
Boudon’s journey into para-sports began following a severe motorcycle accident in 1982 that resulted in the loss of both his legs. He discovered judo by chance while accompanying his son to a trial session. The discipline became a turning point in his rehabilitation. In 2009, he reached a milestone by becoming the first French judoka in a wheelchair to earn a black belt. Following this achievement, he expanded his efforts to develop para-judo and para-chanbara, a martial art practiced with swords.
A Legacy of Local Advocacy
Beyond his martial arts career, Boudon has been an active figure in regional development. Starting in 2004, he served as a deputy mayor in Trilport, where he worked on local accessibility projects. He founded the association Trace Plus to promote handbike usage and collaborated with the local judo club and the municipality to organize “handi-valide” days, which encouraged participation across all levels of physical ability. His contributions were also recognized by the Paralympic Committee and the Department of Seine-et-Marne, who selected him to carry the Paralympic flame for the Paris 2024 Games in Fontainebleau. Regarding this earlier recognition, he noted, Cette médaille, on ne la cherche pas. Mais quand on l’obtient, on se rend compte de tout le chemin qu’on a parcouru.
The Role of Marc Verillotte
The medals were presented to Boudon by Marc Verillotte, a former member of the French national judo team and a veteran of the RAID assault unit. During the ceremony, Verillotte spoke about Boudon’s transition from his 1982 accident to his current standing as a leader in disability sports. Local officials, including Trilport Jean-Michel Morer and Department Jean-François Parigi, characterized the award as a deserved recognition of an exceptional and inspiring life path.
Future Projects and Ongoing Commitment
Although retired, Boudon remains the director of para-judo for the Île-de-France region, a position he is scheduled to hold until 2028. He intends to use the recognition provided by the medal as a foundation for future advocacy rather than a conclusion to his work. C’est une responsabilité, pas une finalité,
he stated. Cette récompense vient confirmer le travail effectué toutes ces années. C’est un gage de confiance aussi pour les personnes que j’aurai en face de moi lorsque je voudrais monter un nouveau projet.
Currently, he is organizing a para-sports event in Seine-et-Marne that will feature taekwondo, judo, and kyudo, a Japanese form of archery. He emphasized that the event will focus on adapting to various pathologies, with a primary rule of preserving the physical and moral integrity of all participants, noting there will be mixité totale sur les types de handicap. Il n’y aura pas de limite.
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