“When I started playing sports, I became Philippe again.” Philippe Croizon, athlete and adventurer, on the eve of the opening of the Paralympic Games

A top athlete who had all four limbs amputated following an accident in 1994, Philippe Croizon believes in the French goal of winning 20 gold medals at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. Interview with this eternal optimist.

He admits it himself. He is very emotional. So this Monday, August 26, when he attends the laying of the first stone of the gymnasium that will bear his name in Louviers (Eure), Philippe Croizon has trouble holding back his tears.

“It is a moment of emotion and recognition.” explains Philippe Croizon during the interview conducted by our journalists Véronique Arnould and Stéphane L’Hôte. “It is recognition of the work accomplished, of what we do with the teams. The I does not exist. I take this recognition for myself and for all those who have accompanied me in my life journey. The firefighters, the SAMU, the rehabilitation center and all the people who are around me to lead the adventures.”

At 56 years old, having had all four limbs amputated after accidentally touching a high-voltage power line, Philippe Croizon has achieved a number of sporting exploits: crossing the English Channel in 2010, four crossings which allowed him to swim across the five continents in 2012, diving depth record for a quadruple amputee in 2013, participation in the Dakar in 2017…

Sport rebuilt me. It gave me resilience. When I started playing sport, I found myself again, I became Philippe again. It allowed me to reach out to people, to talk with them.

Philippe Croizon, athlete and adventurer

This gymnasium, which will bear his name and should be built within a year in Louviers, is therefore a source of pride and a sign of hope. Because for him, people with disabilities want to live within society.It’s not me who is disabled. It’s my society. If my company is adapted then I am no longer in a situation of disability.”

On the eve of the opening of the Paralympic Games, Philippe Croizon attended the passage of the flame in Eure on Monday August 26.

In May, he himself carried the flame in Charente.

Throughout the Olympic Games, on social media, he brought the sporting competitions to life in his own way by talking about his meetings with athletes and supporters.

“It’s true that during the Olympics, I had fun.” he remembers. “The Paralympics will be an extraordinary celebration as well. I just hope that the current events will not spoil this celebration. I hope that some people will wait to make their decision until after September 8, the closing date of the Paralympic Games, that would be good.” making a more or less discreet allusion to the current discussions for the nomination of the new French government.

Asked about the risk that this second Olympic session will go less unnoticed than at the start of the summer, Philippe Croizon is confident.I was born an optimist. I am convinced that the Olympic bubble will start up again and that the French will follow the paras and encourage our athletes. We need it. France is aiming for eighth place, with 20 gold medals. It is very ambitious. But there is such an extraordinary public that supported the athletes in July. I am certain that once again, the supporters will be there.“.

And the athlete concluded: “Everything is possible. The impossible is just us. The question is: what are our dreams? What are our desires and goals? We are going to live extraordinary para games“.