Two champions from Vayres were made honorary citizens by Jacques Legrand, mayor, this Thursday, December 19. Grégoire Bireau, bronze medalist in para-rowing (mixed coxed four) during the Paris Paralympic Games, and Nicolas Depoortère, Rugby player for the Union Bordeaux Bègles, were celebrated by their native town.
At the age of 10, Grégoire Bireau was licensed to the Libourne nautical club, then joined the national teams. An unfortunate accident deprived him of his hand in 2022. Less than a year later he joined the French Paralympic rowing team. He won his first medals at European level at the start of 2023, then the mixed coxed four obtained a 5e place at the world championships, which qualified him for the Paralympic Games in Paris with, in the end, a bronze medal. He is now a reservist police officer and, as such, integrated into the support system for high-level athletes of the Ministry of the Interior.
“The Paralympic Games were a fantastic time with incredible enthusiasm from the public throughout our events. Such enthusiasm is quite unusual for us. I felt the need to take a break by crossing the Pyrenees by bike. Training has resumed to try to qualify for the French championships next March. »
Captain at the UBB
There is no need to introduce Nicolas Depoortère, three-quarter center player for UBB who started at the Izon club, with already two selections in the French XV during the last Six Nations Tournament. At 21, he was able to establish himself in his team through his size and leadership, motivating his teammates in difficult times. “The year 2024 was particularly intense with my first selections for the French team, my captaincy at UBB, and an injury which kept me away from the field for six weeks. The club's objective is to finish in the first two in the Top 14 to avoid a play-off. In the European Cup, with two additional victories, we can hope to go far,” he declared during the evening.
Rugby
France
