Like last year, the editorial staff of The Team crowned, Thursday, December 26, four champions of French champions from four categories: men, women, para-men, para-women. They are swimmer Léon Marchand (second consecutive year), para-cyclist Alexandre Leauté (second consecutive year), triathlete Cassandre Beaugrand and para-cyclist Marie Patouillet.
The French swimming prodigy, Léon Marchand is therefore elected champion of champions France for the year 2024. He had already been the winner of 2023. Léon Marchand won five medals this year at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, including four gold . The swimmer is ahead of judoka Teddy Riner and rugby player Antoine Dupont.
Alexandre Leauté is also a winner for the second consecutive year, also crowned at Paris 2024 with two gold medals and two bronze medals on the track and on the road. The para-cyclist is ahead of para-triathlete Alexis Hanquinquant and blind football player Frédéric Villeroux.
Cassandre Beaugrand becomes, at the age of 27, the first triathlete to register her name on this list, just as she was the first French athlete adept at triple effort to become Olympic champion. She is ahead of the cyclist Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and the athlete (hurdles) Cyréna Samba-Mayela.
Marie Patouillet also left her mark on Paris 2024 by becoming the first French para-cyclist to obtain a gold medal. She is ahead of boccia player Aurélie Aubert and para-swimmer Émeline Pierre.
Champions of champions, instructions for use: Awarded since 1946 for France and 1975 for the world, the L'Équipe Champion of Champions trophy rewards the sportsman, sportswoman, para-athlete and para-athlete who have made a mark the year, according to journalists from the L’Équipe group. Since 2012, the trophy is no longer mixed and distinguishes, for France and for the world, a winner and a laureate.
The ranking is established following a secret ballot, closed on November 21. From a list of nominees, each journalist established his or her list of the most remarkable sportsmen and women, for the able-bodied and for the second year in a row, the para-athletes.
