Perle Bouge qualified for the Paralympic Games a month ago, during the Lucerne regatta. The rower is preparing for her fourth Paralympic Games. She won the silver medal in London in 2012, then the bronze medal in Rio in 2016, before failing in the B final in Tokyo (9th) in 2020. She seemed to be losing momentum at the entrance to the Olympic year. La Bayonnaise has completely relaunched itself by joining forces with a new teammate, Benjamin Daviet, the cross-country skier with five Paralympic gold medals.
Do you think you have come a long way, after coming out of the last season without a ticket to Paris and without a doubles teammate?
I never gave up, even in the most difficult times. I don’t like failure. I prefer to fight. I continued to train. I kept hope and my salvation came from the arrival of my new doubles teammate, Benjamin Daviet, who also wanted to take on the challenge of qualifying in rowing to compete in the Paris Games. He’s like me, he doesn’t like losing. Few people believed in us and in the end, we managed to qualify by winning in Lucerne.
You are the pirate ship we didn’t expect. Do you think that you are also the one who has the most room for improvement?
Yes. We weren’t expected. We can actually talk about a pirate ship. Benjamin Daviet is brand new to rowing competitions. He started this season but he is progressing very quickly. He is already a high-level athlete who has experience of major events and Games. He shone as a cross-country skier. Indeed, with him, the boat has a good margin of progress. I have experience with fifteen years of practice. He has potential to develop. We have two months left to try to join the wagon of candidates for the podium of the Games, behind the English and Chinese who will be the favorites.
“We are the boat that has rowed the least together but we must aim for at least the podium”
What is your program for the next few weeks?
We are increasing the number of internships with the French team. Until now, we hadn’t had too much time to practice together, to fine-tune all the settings. It’s really the first time we’ve rowed this much together. It’s important to give yourself the means to be at the level of the best. We are the boat that rowed the least jointly. We must aim for at least the podium since we beat the Poles, Dutch, Ukrainians and Israelis this season. And then, we will be at home, in front of our audience. It’s extra strength.
Does your qualification arouse particular enthusiasm around you?
I felt great enthusiasm at my Aviron Bayonnais club, but also at home in Brittany, where I had the honor of carrying the Olympic flame and lighting the cauldron in Rennes, in front of a huge audience. . And then, here in the Basque Country, I have local companies that support my efforts in the preparation and purchase of materials. I have just received a check for 20,000 euros from Glass Partners Solutions, Elie Benmergui’s company, which does a lot for amateur sport.
Jérôme Hamelin will not go to the Games
Perle Bouge will be the only member of Rowing Bayonnais for the Paris Paralympic Games. Jérôme Hamelin, the other para-rower who was a substitute for the French team at the last Tokyo Games, applied for the Paris Games. But the Bayonnais from Rowing, injured in a finger, had missed the start of the season and the selections to move up to the French barred four. He will not be at the Paris Games. “I am going to turn to the world sea rowing championship which was my discipline for several years,” he says. I did three world championships before 2021. I will do it again.” Jérôme Hamelin therefore imitates Elur Alberdi. The Hendayaise, deprived of the starting position in the Pr3 mixed doubles of the Games, will also turn to this discipline since the French staff selected her rival, Guylaine Marchand, for this summer.
