South Channel. Young people with disabilities at the French blowgun championships

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Four young people with disabilities from the Institute of Motor Education (IEM) of Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët will go to Troyes this Saturday, November 16. They are participating in the French junior blowgun championships, in which 48 participants from all over France will compete. “This competition has existed since 2022 and we have several representatives each time. But this is the first time that there are so many of them,” rejoices Anne-Marie Boëda, educator at the institute and blowgun coach.

In total, five young people from the South Channel, aged 14 to 18, are traveling to Aube to try to win the title of French junior champion. “Recently we set up a blowgun section with the Mortain rugby union club. We included a former IEM student who has already participated in the championships and qualified. This also allows us to introduce the discipline to people with disabilities, but also to able-bodied people,” continues the educator. It is under the club label that para-athletes enter the competition.

A game of precision

The principle of the discipline: send darts to the heart of a target, similar to archery. But this time, it is with your breath that you must launch the projectile. The championships are divided into two rounds. The first consists of achieving the best in three flights of ten darts. Only half of the participants can qualify for the next round. In this second round, the competitors compete one against one. They must achieve the best score by throwing an arrow at three different targets. The first to win two rounds eliminates their opponent, until the final.

Loyan, Marine, Malia, Yoni and Emma train at least once a week to perfect their technique and improve their score. And it’s not precision that they lack. “Did you see? Loyan made three 9s. We must continue like this,” says Lydiane Desgrippes, also a blowgun educator and coach. “Malia your throw was less good because your shoulders were not well placed. »

Gain confidence despite the disability

For these young people, practicing this sport is much more than a challenge. It is a way to enter society and gain self-esteem. “Many are shy or think they are worthless. Sport allows them to surpass themselves. They flourish and gain self-confidence. They are proud and it is rewarding because they realize that they have abilities. This is also the case for their loved ones,” assures Anne-Marie Boëda.

A triple champion of Normandy

During training hours, joy can be seen on their faces. “I'm happy because I made two 10s on the same end! », exclaims Loyan. “It’s good because we’re making progress. We gain breath, concentration, we aim better,” adds Emma. The latter is a three-time junior regional champion and reached the semi-finals during the last French championships. She ranks ninth in the discipline nationally. Performances which allowed him to carry the Olympic flame during his visit to Villedieu-les-Poêles last May. “It was beautiful. She took out insurance at that time. », confirms Anne-Marie Boëda.

Even if the coaches hope for the best possible results, the heart of this project does not lie in performance. “The important thing is that they have fun and give the best of themselves,” summarizes the educator. For next year, the new blowgun club hopes to bring this experience to even more young people.

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