Maxime Carabin achieved the Paralympic double by triumphing in the 100m in the T52 class in Paris, a week after his 400m victory at the Stade de France. A day after Léa Bayekula (T54), the sprinter said he was “very proud” of his accomplishment.
“I knew that my start wasn’t very good, but that I could accelerate afterwards,” explained the Liégeois who had started the race slowly. “We are looking for a solution to start faster, but it’s not easy with my handicap. Once I get going, I know how to use my strength and go fast.” The time of 16.70, while he holds a world record of 16.13, does not interest Carabin. “I came for the gold medals and I got them. I am very proud.”
Maxime Carabin achieved the same double as Léa Bayekula, in the 100 and 400 m. “But I also achieved two Paralympic records! So I’m doing better than Léa,” he joked. The Brussels native also achieved a Paralympic record, in the 100 m final.
“I worked four years for this, and I made a lot of sacrifices,” Carabin said. “Those gold medals were all that mattered. We only have one moment to show ourselves as Paralympians, and that’s here. Those Paralympic records are also important to me because they’re the only ones I didn’t hold yet. I want to go even faster in the future.”
“I want to be an example. I hope these medals will change the way the general public looks at people with disabilities. We want people to get to know us and see us as Olympians. Maybe the Paralympic Games can be combined with the Olympic Games? All in one place, one event. That would be beautiful.”
