From one of our special correspondents in Paris
More than eleven minutes after a “highway” new Paralympic champion, Jules Ribstein, the other Frenchman entered in the race, Geoffrey Wersy emerged in the final straight of the PTS2 triathlon.
Announcing that he was aiming for a top 5 finish in his first Games, the Poitevin only finished in eighth position on Monday September 2, before gaining a place following the disqualification of Colombian Juan Esteban Patino Giraldo.
Difficulties on the bike
“Disappointed and moved”the 32-year-old para-athlete holds back tears as he debriefs: “It was a really tough race. But I was touched to see the French public supporting me all along the way.”.
A course – 750 m swimming, 20 km cycling and 5 km walking – that the Stade Poitevin member had nevertheless started in a satisfactory manner. “When I got out of the water, I felt pretty good.”underlined Wersy, who was in seventh place, five minutes behind the leaders.
Five minutes off his personal best
But, on the cycling part, the race turned into an ordeal: “I found this course very difficult, especially because of the cobblestones”. When he started the running race, his specialty, he was 8’23 behind his compatriot. But the problems were not over, as the Poitevin lost more than a minute during the transition phase by experiencing “difficulty putting on left shoe”.
On foot, he gained a little time but not enough to catch up with one of his opponents. In short, Geoffrey Wersy suffered for his first Paralympic triathlon, just passing under the bar of 1 h 17 (1 h 16’59). Almost five minutes from his personal record.
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