Maxime Carabin had “come for the gold” in Paris and assumed his status: “It was fantastic”

Maxime Carabin became a Paralympic champion in para-athletics at the age of 23. The Liège native won gold in the 400m wheelchair race in the T52 class. Coming with ambitions, the athlete from Soumagne assumed responsibility.

“It was fantastic,” rejoiced Maxime Carabin, who had already set a new Paralympic record in the morning’s heats. “My tactic is always the same. I want to be in the lead after the bend and then I don’t want to see anyone again. It worked. I was able to maintain my lead. It was fantastic to be able to celebrate the victory here, with the Belgian flag, in a full stadium with a great atmosphere, we are not used to that as disabled athletes. And then I was allowed to ring the bell in the stadium.”

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The Liège native clocked a time of 55.10 in the final on a soaked track at the Stade de France, quite far from his world record (52.00). “But that doesn’t count at all today,” said the Belgian athlete who opened the Belgian delegation’s medal tally in Paris. “The conditions were anything but ideal. I certainly didn’t have a perfect race, but achieving a better time is not possible in such conditions. In rainy weather, we use special gloves and wheels, adjustments have to be made to the steering wheel. It’s not possible to break a record with that. This morning, I was stressed for a moment. I clocked a time of 54 seconds (editor’s note: 54.48), whereas here I’m doing more than 52 seconds. But my goal was to win gold, no one will remember the times. While everyone remembers the medals and the titles. I came for the gold and I got it.”

Maxime Carabin will savour his title, “but I’m certainly not going to go crazy. I still have my two 100 metres (editor’s note: on 5 and 6 September). There will be a little festive moment with my family and friends, but I have to stay focused. I pay close attention to my health and my physical condition. I want to stay at the top for years to come.”

The Liège athlete feels comfortable in Paris. “At least from the second day onwards,” he said. “My first night in the Village was hell. I was very excited, I wanted to see and do everything, like collect pins. But I quickly understood that that’s not why I was here. I’m here to perform, so I retreated into my bubble. I’m going to try to continue doing that for a few more days.”