Thomas Siniecki, Media365: published on Monday August 26, 2024 at 10:16 p.m.
Born without a left forearm, Heidi Gaugain is not even 20 years old but certainly has no time to waste.
Heidi Gaugain will be one of the huge chances of a medal for the French team at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. And in the plural, because at only 19 years old, she risks sweeping the board, both on the track and on the road. The first disabled athlete to be elected French champion of champions last year by our colleagues at L’Equipe (in addition to her male counterpart Alexandre Léauté), she was vice-world champion in the road race and bronze medalist in the time trial, in her C5 disability category (amputation or unilateral upper limb injury). It’s even better on the track, since she is the reigning double world champion in the individual pursuit (2023 and 2024)!
“Super interesting and important”
A France 3 team followed her as she reconnoitered the Clichy-sous-Bois road course, where the events will take place on September 4 and 6. “In the morning, in the afternoon… We’re also going to film to see it again and get the automatisms beforehand.” Having set off with her partner Mathieu Dupé, an excellent amateur cyclist, even he has trouble keeping up with her when she revs up. Her analysis is uncompromising, but she knows that it will be just as difficult for everyone – and that’s precisely the point: “The start is very technical, then the hill still hurts. After the descent, you never recover.”
His maximum speed is flashed at 50 km/h, in the middle of dense traffic since the traffic has not yet been cut: “It’s not a time trial pace, but still a little higher than normal, so you can see how it goes or not. It’s difficult too, because even downhill, you have to pedal all the time. But it’s really interesting and important to recognize a course like that.” Before switching to the track on Sunday, it was necessary, since the return to the road will therefore take place the following week.
