Last day of celebrations in Vaires-sur-Marne. After having been the scene of historic races at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the nautical base is bringing down the curtain this Sunday, September 8. And what better way to celebrate the end of the competitions than to attend a final French race. In front of a full stand from which “Allez Nélia” have been ringing out since the end of the morning, the Frenchwoman Nélia Barbosa must set off for her final of the 200 meters KL3. The young woman affected by neurofibromatosis, a genetic disease that caused her to have her right ankle amputated, dreams of gold. After winning silver in Tokyo in 2021, she hopes this time to leave with the most beautiful medal, in front of her home crowd.
So, to win the supreme title, the athlete goes into “Néliator mode”. This is how she described her state of mind before her races a few months ago to Paris Match. Focused, the 25-year-old Frenchwoman, born in Portugal and who discovered kayaking during a summer camp in Corsica at the age of 12, does not want to let her chance pass her by. But in front of her stands an obstacle, that of the British Laura Sugar, who achieved the best time during the qualifications, just ahead of Nélia Barbosa. To climb onto the highest step of the podium, the Frenchwoman knows that she must give her all. And above all, have no regrets.
See you at the closing ceremony
It is 12:15 when the champions set off…
- ParisMatch
