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Editorial The Republic of Seine and Marne
Published on
Jan 7, 2025 at 6:02 p.m.
The young Léo Ouabdesselam21 years old, who lived his entire youth in Veneux-les-Sablonsdelegated commune of Moret-Loing-et-Orvanne (Seine-et-Marne), has just been crowned amateur world champion of half Ironmanin Taupo in New Zealandon December 15, in 3h56'22, two short seconds ahead of the Australian Thomas Page and another tricolor, Rémi Jauzac.
Better than the pros in swimming
This young high-level athlete comes from swimminga discipline for which he was part of the French junior long-distance open water team over 5 and 10 km, from 2018 to 2022. In 2022 and 2023, he converted to triathlonbefore joining Grenoble in 2023 to join the performance circle led by Julien Pousson, a group which includes two Olympic athletes: Dorian Coninx et Sylvain Fridelance. In France, Léo also plays within the “Le Saint-Jean-de-Monts Vendée Triathlon” club.
His sporting record in open water is more than impressive: champion d’Europe junior over 5 km in 2018, 6e junior world championships over the same distance in 2018, French champion junior 1, 2 and 3 over 10 km or 6e European championships over the same distance.
Concerning his last competition in New Zealand, the young athlete would like to clarify: “I became an amateur world champion all categories combined. For the swimming part, I even had the best time, including the professional times.”
Léo Ouabdesselam even finished 36e in the general classification of the race including the professionals.
Half Ironman, what is it?
The half Ironman, also called Ironman 70.3, is a triathlon competition derived from the Ironman. The name “70.3” comes from the total distance of the race in miles, or 113 km, which corresponds to half the distance of an Ironman. The distances to be covered for each discipline are 1.9 kilometers of swimming, 90 kilometers of Cycling and 21.1 kilometers of running.
“We are very proud of our son”
Le Veneusien would also like to thank its supporters, the Moret Seine & Loing community of communes (CCMSL), the bicycle store Addict Cyclingas well as Circle Sportswearwho provided him with his running gear.
“In the name of my wife and myself, we are very proud of our son. He is carrying out a double project, taking competitive exams in order to become a manager in the sporting field,” adds his father, Amar.
Léo also specifies that he is currently “ looking for sponsors » in order to finance his sporting project.
Finally, Patrick Septierspresident of the CCMSL, adds: “9 champions are also supported by the community of municipalities. We are proud of this support for Léo who is an exemplary champion for his commitment, his will, his work and his modesty, without forgetting the endless support of his parents which must be highlighted.”
The next important events for the 21-year-old triathlete will take him to training in January and February at Alicante (Spain)before a new Ironman 70.3 in April, then a competition in June with his club in Saint-Jean-de-Monts. Note that if Léo is today an amateur champion, he plans to soon become professional.
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