The creaking gate of a court, scattered yellow balls and this net which rises like an Everest, an opponent so familiar that it has transformed into an old friend: Marie Temin has found her bearings since May 2023.
More than a date, a rebirth. Eleven months after becoming quadriplegic, following a domestic accident that modesty requires us to abandon to the depths of the past, the Niçoise made the decision to resume tennis.
A passion, a sport and a philosophy of life that she had put aside to rebuild herself and lay the foundations of a daily life to be redesigned in an armchair.
“Basically, I didn’t want to hear about tennis anymore, restores the former French number 20. Then it came back and I told my dad I was starting again on his birthday. I surprised him. With my two brothers, I think they rediscovered the joy of living after that.”
Shaken, the family structure resisted the shock. It has proven to be and continues to be an unwavering support.
“I’m lucky to be surrounded by people and that’s what keeps me going every day. Without that, it would have been completely different”summarizes Marie, who is hanging on despite the battle she is waging to reconnect with her tennis sensations. “It’s hard and frustrating because tennis was easy, it was my sport. Here, I’m relearning everything and it’s difficult to become a beginner again from one day to the next. What I have to manage, It’s armchair handling. Quantifying the time it will take me to get there is a hassle, I can tell you. (laugh). You have to have a lot of patience. Something I didn’t have before my accident and something I’m learning every day.”
A graduate of TC Giordan, west of Nice, she does not spare herself and takes a critical look at her development, despite obvious progress and a formidable attitude, while her rehabilitation occupies her three days a week.
“I can’t measure how far I’ve come because I’m still in my fight, she delivers. Unfortunately, I still spend my life in hospitals. I am focused on my rehabilitation. I was told that in the first three to four years, you have to give everything. I will do everything to recover as much as possible.”
“She has incredible willpower, always smiling. Marie, it’s a life lesson”
Yann Lejeune, his physical trainer
Every day offers him small victories in his quest for autonomy. A company helped her buy her chair while she will soon have a car adapted to her paralysis of all four limbs.
Even if she still has to finance this vehicle, the cost of which is estimated at 90,000 euros minimum, since the Monegasque resident is still faced with this “very expensive” world of disability. She also has to rely on her family and friends to get to training (2 hours of tennis and 2 hours of physics per week).
“Doctors do not comment at all on the future, breathes the native of Nice. They don’t tell me: ‘You’ll walk again or not’. We don’t know. I want to have a normal life, but if I have to sit, I’ll sit.”
The 2019 2nd series French champion works with physical trainer Yann Lejeune. The latter has known her since childhood. Together, they woke up his right arm, his abdominal strap, his paralyzed hands and his still immobile fingers.
To escort him, the duo can rely “on the hallucinatory will” and this “smile” still clinging to Marie’s face. These traveling companions could have been lost when the rain fell. They remained precious suns, ever brighter.
“She is only progressing. Marie, it’s a life lesson, underlines Yann Lejeune. She has been an able-bodied, high-level athlete and there is muscle memory. When the doctors see her again every three months, they are surprised by her progress.”
“When I woke up from my operation, I was almost a vegetable. Today, I manage to be relatively independent”
Marie Temin, on her progress
“When I woke up from my operation, I was almost a vegetable. Today, I manage to be relatively independent and move around. Two years ago, I would never have thought that I would be on a court tennis. I’m doing well with everything I’ve had.”rewinds the winner of an ITF tournament in 2017. It was in Hammamet in Tunisia, her only title won among the pros. “I’m told that I’m progressing quickly because I know how to play tennis, takes over the former Nice LTC player. I know the game.” Despite her accident, the thirty-year-old has lost none of her state of mind. Netted, variations, it has preserved its DNA. “Only my mobility has changed. My game remains offensive, that’s my strength. Why change it?”
The Los Angeles Paralympic Games are its target and the heart of its fight. The Paris JOPs gave greater emphasis to this objective. Tennis vibrates for the Grand Slams, Marie too, but Olympism now feeds her thirst. More intensely. “It’s a bit of a crazy goal, she says. But I always set the bar a little high. I always needed adrenaline, even before my accident. Competition is what makes me tick. Coming back just to trade, that didn’t interest me. I have always watched the Olympics, but less than the Grand Slams. I couldn’t do them standing up but why not do them while sitting? Even if it means returning to the circuit, why not try to reach the highest level. My story with tennis was not over and a lioness never dies.”
Questions to Olivier Vergonjeanne, Marie Temin’s trainer
“I have never met anyone with such resilience”
Coach for 25 years of Laurent Giammartini, world number 1 in wheelchair tennis in 1993, then of Christine Schoen for twelve years, the Cagnoise that he led to the Paralympic Games in London in 2012, Olivier Vergonjeanne is a pioneer of wheelchair tennis in France . A discipline that he developed within the FFT. Since last year, he has been supporting Marie Temin in her immense challenge.
Olivier, how did you meet Marie?
Marie, I came across her from time to time. It was hello good evening. I learned about her accident, that a tennis player was in intensive care, from my son’s ex-girlfriend who was a physiotherapist at Archet. Quite quickly, I made the parallel with Marie. I sent a message to his father to tell him I was there if needed. For a year, I didn’t get a response and I respected that. I was going to call his brother but Marie called me back. We made an appointment in May 2023. The first session was a real test, she came out with a banana.
Where is she today?
It is expanding, gaining power and speed. She manages to engage, her forehands and backhands pass, but she is still either too close or too far in the exchange. As soon as it breaks the psychological barrier linked to reading the trajectories, it will be fine. She must know when to take the ball, on the first or second bounce. She will join our team in N3. We do not yet know when the championship will start. For my end
career, Marie, it’s a joy on a human and sporting level. She begins to write her story and it will be beautiful
Los Angeles, is it playable?
