An accomplished sportswoman (running, cycling, yoga, swimming, etc.), this daughter of a former Paris firefighter works as a heritage expert at the Poste Perpignan Arago. On May 15, Sylvie will briskly walk the “The most exciting 200 meters of my life” she said, before passing her precious baton to another bearer. Encounter.
The closer THE big day gets, the more she looks forward to it. Sylvie Emery, heritage expert business manager at La Poste (partner of the 2024 Olympic Games) Perpignan Arago, is one of 140 sisters and brothers of all ages selected throughout France – including 13 in Occitanie. She confides, “I will therefore have the honor of relaying the flame of Olympism whose beautiful values I obviously share”. This long-awaited moment will take place for the only postal worker relaying the P.-O. on Wednesday, May 15, on the shores of Lake Villeneuve-de-la-Raho.
A modern torch weighing 1.5 kilos
“On April 3, we all gathered in Paris, at our company headquarters, to get to know each other better and exchange our first impressions of the “selected” remembers Sylvie Emery with emotion. “At that moment, the 140 postal workers that we are on a daily basis really appreciated the luck and pride of being able to represent our function, our department and our region. To be able to make our modest contribution to this global event which is taking place in France , in one of the most beautiful cities in the world Even if our relay route is short: 200 meters in rapid walking, each of us will, I believe, be fully aware of holding in hand, with this modern torch weighing 1.5. kilo, the very symbol of 3000 years of history, of fraternity, of unity, of peace between peoples, and of sportsmanship of course”, she adds.
A fascination with artistic gymnastics since the era of Nadia Comaneci
Preselected in November 2023 after typing her motivational email, “in one go” on her computer keyboard, Sylvie learned of her final selection in January. Since then, she has made no secret of it, her heart has been beating a little faster. Fascinated by the artistic gymnastics events during the domination, in 1976, of the young Romanian Nadia Comaneci, crowned queen of the Montreal Olympics, the Perpignan postal worker also says she appreciates “running and swimming”. Two sporting disciplines that she has practiced assiduously since her Parisian childhood, encouraged by a father who was a former firefighter.
She is a torchbearer well in her head and in her sneakers who will set off on May 15 to cover these 200 meters during which she risks never touching the ground again. “And that I will never forget“, she concedes, her eyes already moist.
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