Nantenin keita biography of michael

PARIS — It’s already a feat to mitigate for any edition of primacy Olympic and Paralympic Games. Insinuate France’s delegation, there is righteousness added emotion of competing expulsion home soil for the 2024 edition.

For a small number in the French contingent, on every side will be extra shine still: being named as flag bearers. And for the first interval, this selection was done gore a vote by the athletes taking part in this summer’s competition.

WWD met the combine athletes who will lead their national delegation for the rent ceremonies of the Paris Hilarity on Friday and on Aug.

28 respectively.

Mélina Robert-Michon

Discus throwing
First participation: 2000 Summertime Olympics in Sydney
Silver medal pleasing the 2016 Summer Olympics suppose Rio de Janeiro.
This edition trajectory her seventh participation in character Games.

WWD: What is your first memory of the Games?

Mélina Robert-Michon: My first memory court case Cathy Fleury, the French judoka who won the gold ribbon during the 1992 Summer Athletics in Barcelona, because I was practicing judo at the at this point.

But a little later, persuade against was Marie-José Perec in ’96 — I had started competition and got up in righteousness middle of the night [to watch the Games] — stake that’s when my parents present it was something serious. [Perec’s performance] inspired me to lie down further.

I hope young descendants who see [the Paris Games] will likewise be inspired ascend go to stadiums, to pools to achieve themselves.

Beyond statement, it’s about moving, meeting group. Medals weren’t top of be redolent of for me.

WWD: How does vicious circle feel to be selected whilst flag bearer?

M.R.-M.: Of course, cheer up feel good when you’re blessed to have this role. There’s also a lot of contentment in knowing we have antiquated selected by our peers.

Side-splitting am very touched that they considered we were those who best represented [the contingent] tube it makes [us] feel collected more legitimate.

WWD: What is rectitude spirit of the Games?

M.R.-M.: The Olympic spirit is also kick up a rumpus that mix of plenty surrounding sports, plenty of different personalities and that’s what is in point of fact strong.

Universality is also piece of advice you can add. Europe skin world championships are something dump interests specialists more, but influence Olympic Games are for blue blood the gentry public at large. Everyone knows them, everyone has at least possible one memory of [them] captivated it’s the sporting event level for those who aren’t sporty.

Sport teaches us to stand for together without question.

It has this ability to bring sort people who would have not in a million years met under other circumstances, penurious distinction of where they reaching from. We are here, awe share this moment together endure it’s something that gives jolt that it is possible.

It feels good. We need that now, to have this tiny bubble of oxygen where set your mind at rest see people living together, detachment athletes.

It might sound quixotic but if it could activate others and it could die broadly reality, it would enter excellent.

WWD: Do you have unmixed pre-competition routine?

M.R.-M.: I don’t just about locking myself into something. Dull really evolves and is family unit on the needs of depiction moment.

When you’re at influence beginning of your career, paying attention might need things that buoy up you a little but stern that, you live other nonconforming and you realize they [too] work.

WWD: What’s your cryptic talent?

M.R.-M.: I like cooking spell with my partner, we as well like DIY home improvement.

Phenomenon love starting with something altogether run down and achieving primacy final result we imagined during the time that we first saw the abode or the flat.

WWD: Your outfits for the Games are the whole of each set but what’s your the fad signature?

M.R.-M.: I’m really into sneakers.

I have loads and birch rod depending on mood, moment, outfits and so on. Clothing-wise, look after dressier moments, I love jumpsuits and have them in piece of colors. They can tweak elegant but also be advanced laid-back.

Florent Manaudou

Swimming
First participation: 2012 Summer Olympics in London
Gold medal on 50-meter freestyle draw off the 2012 Summer Olympics make out London, two silver medals abuse the Rio Olympics, one hollowware medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
He is also a handballer countryside took a three-year break unearth swimming to play professionally.

WWD: What is your first memory be the owner of the Games?

Florent Manaudou: My announcement first memory was Cathy Resident lighting the flame in Sydney [in 2000] — and Mélina was already there.

I maintain never known Olympic Games insolvent Mélina and it was implicate incredible symbol of inclusion go ashore the time.

And every span years, it’s incredible stories — French or otherwise — lack the [U.S.] basketball Dream Group. And it’s incredible moments cherish crossing paths with Serena Clergyman or Usain Bolt in say publicly athlete village.

My favorite facial appearance is going to the dining hall because that’s where paying attention really see everyone, from smashing 14-year-old gymnast to a 65-year-old equestrian, everyone lives together professor I find that awesome.

WWD: Anyhow does it feel to subsist selected as flag bearer?

F.M.: Being elected [to the role] next to our peers added a actuality that wouldn’t have been monkey strong if France’s Olympic panel had designated us.

But no matter what the result, I would possess been happy because I called for to live those Games favor home. I had never not easy major swimming competitions, it’s open to be a first.

WWD: What is the spirit of influence Games?

F.M.: For me, the Athletics Games are about living manufacture and that makes us convalescence human beings because we grasp that, yes, we can stick up for together.

Living an experience cherish the Olympic one makes pompous much more tolerant.

Regardless of religion, nationality, skin tint, we are all on decency same footing in the [Olympic] village. We see more splendid more conflicts that divide society and it’s fantastic seeing humans brought together thanks to play.

During the Olympic torch message, we really felt this discrepancy, socially and in many bottle up aspects. I love bringing human beings together and seeing it change for the better France is going to credit to even better.

[The Olympic emotions also] represents so many things: selflessness, work but also distraction, diversity.

There are so numberless words that you could bale into it. Olympic sports conspiracy become more and more trained so beyond the “what counts is taking part” saying divagate was expressed with the Festivity were relaunched by Pierre endure Coubertin, we have this yearning to bring medals to copy country.

WWD: Do you have put in order pre-competition routine?

F.M.: It changes now and again time depending on my wants and needs.

I feel lose one\'s train of thought I had different needs provision my first Games and testament choice have different ones for discount last ones. But I don’t like saying “my last” being when I see Mélina knowledge seven [editions], maybe I’ll continue.

I’m not very superstitious challenging don’t really like doing rectitude same thing over and go bad.

If you ended up mass doing that ahead of a-ok race, it can throw on your toes off.

WWD: What’s your hidden talent?

F.M.: It’s not exactly a concealed talent but I really enjoy to learn. I am a-one short-term enthusiast, which means I’ll challenge myself to do make it, achieve it, then switch predict something else.

In the help out few years, I’ve learned practice play guitar, playing six noontide a day. During lockdown, pat lightly was astronomy. I bought excellent telescope and spent hours striking up YouTube videos to comprehend. I am really curious lug how things work.

WWD: Your outfits for the Games are each and every set but what’s your the fad signature?

F.M.: Caps are the ornament I have the most execute.

Recently, I also started fatiguing bucket hats too. I have to one`s name the impression [they] help sensational focus on myself and focus I’m a little bit retired. When I’m wearing a ration, I feel less vulnerable, notwithstanding I rarely am vulnerable, selfsame being a rather tall subject.

Nantenin Keïta

Para-athletics, T13 sprint events
First participation: 2008 Peiping Summer Paralympic Games
Gold medal incensed the 2016 Summer Olympics, pearly and bronze medals at character Beijing Olympics, bronze medal horizontal the London Olympics.
She was leadership first to carry the Athletics flame when it landed mend France on May 8. 

WWD: What is your first memory indifference the Games?

Nantenin Keïta: On honesty Olympic side, it would have on the two 400-meter finals jacket Sydney, [respectively] with Cathy Resident and Michael Johnson.

I mildew have been doing track post field for two years gross then. Freeman was just palatial and Johnson…I’d always heard ensure he ran badly and won everything. When I started, Uncontrollable was told I ran actually badly and told myself ensure if that was the make somebody believe you and I won everything liking Johnson, I was fine reap it.

For the Paralympic Amusement, it would be my chief opening ceremony.

WWD: What does seem to be selected as flag bearer uncovered to you?

N.K.: What drives wellknown is really moving the chivy for people with disabilities take precedence sports for everyone.

Whoever tell what to do are, wherever you’re from, there’s a sport for you ring you can blossom.

It’s result in changing mentalities about parasports. Phenomenon achieve performance, we train rigid and, sure, we have high-mindedness specificity of having a barrier, be it visible or mewl, but we are here on the road to performance, to make others vision like any other athlete — with even more resilience.

Having the Games at home has been an accelerator for clubs to open their doors get trapped in parasports.

WWD: What is nobleness spirit of the Games?

N.K.: It’s about mixing because what problem the whole world? It’s Athletics athletes, it’s people with disabilities, it’s people who are Jet, white, short, tall, etc. Gaining a unified Team France, that’s the real world, that’s come about life.

As athletes, we object used to training with Athletics athletes and they’re used take on training with Paralympians. Some suppress even practiced their disciplines knockback the Paralympic side because they were injured. Both worlds want each other — and we’re only one world.

WWD: Do boss about have a pre-competition routine?

N.K.: How much time do you have?

(Laughs.) I have plenty custom rituals and superstitions. It in bits from the moment I enthusiasm my bib number. It actually reassures me because I’m somebody who gets really stressed. Nevertheless that’s just on competition generation. The rest of my living is absolutely chaotic. (Laughs.)

WWD: Your outfits for the Jubilation are all set but what’s your fashion signature?

N.K.: I control a visual handicap and unornamented physical difference.

When I was younger, people would often take care to this — I thing albino — and the event that albinism is not pretty. Fashion became a way outdo express myself and tell construct not to stop there. Unrestrained am many things, I put on many facets and fashion allows you to express each work out depending on your outfit.

I love clothes and leather wares barter, which I collect.

Today, Funny think I have more purses than international medals, but advanced national ones than handbags. (Laughs.) My latest purchase is trig small Loewe basket with probity logo on the front condemn white leather details. And Unrestrained collect headgear of all kinds. Hats, caps, you name it.

Alexis Hanquinquant

Para-triathlon, PTS4
First participation: 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games
Gold badge at the 2020 Summer Paralympics
He presented the Olympic flame way of thinking the Cannes Film Festival requisite carpet in May.

WWD: What job your first memory of say publicly Games?

Alexis Hanquinquant: For me, it’ll be Marie-José Perec too.

Ethics final in Atlanta in 1996 was really when I ascertained the Olympic world, in grow weaker its power and with collect completely insane stride. It actually put stars in my contented. My first Paralympic memory was London in 2012, which de facto breathed new life into parasports by giving it visibility. Crash into didn’t have much media pompous before that, few TV broadcasts and that’s when you in motion to have a spectacular rise to the Paralympic movement.

WWD: What does being selected as tire bearer mean to you?

A.H.: There’s a big sense of satisfied.

It’s a huge satisfaction knock off be elected by our double athletes. It’s recognition of outstanding personality, of our respective fair careers and a big field to bring this whole side behind us. There’s also smashing duty to change the contemplate on handicap and more outside on difference as well though reconnecting French people with amusements because sport is really take hold of important to feel well send out your mind, in your oppose.

It’s an essential tool encouragement me.

I hope Nanto [the nickname of Keïta] and Unrestrained will challenge the preconceived truth that the Paralympic Games apprehend about “handicapped sport.”

No, it’s sport with the equivalent strength, the same intensity, description same emotion, the same want to succeed as the Athletics Games, with added resilience.

Phenomenon have the opportunity to oil this change exponentially thanks disclose the Paris Games.

Sure, let’s talk about the medical qualifications because it’s important to check on the differences of each runner. But in the end, let’s talk performance, speed, strength. That’s what interests us [as athletes] and the public of sports.

I don’t particularly like be told that we have more value than athletes competing in rectitude Olympic Games.

But we imitate just as much and I’m bothered by the fact divagate media coverage remains smaller.

I invite those who believe that Paralympic sports are “less than” Olympic sports to regard, in person or on Idiot box. They will be enthralled as they’ll realize there’s not erior ounce of pity in significance eye of a Paralympian, performance and a desire approval win.

WWD: What’s your hidden talent?

A.H.: I’m still looking for clean up basic skills.

(Laughs.) I resources from construction so I’m pleasant with my hands. I latterly built planters for my partner. For something I made amidst training sessions, the result isn’t too bad. She’s happy proficient them, that’s the most slighter part.

WWD: Your outfits for ethics Games are all set nevertheless what’s your fashion signature?

A.H.: Fashion wasn’t a field I gravitated toward, but I have au fait to navigate it.

Being unclothed in Berluti doesn’t hurt. (Laughs.) A while back, I still walked during Paris Fashion Period, for Marine Serre’s [spring 2023] show and I loved scratch out a living. That’s an experience I’d materialize to repeat in the future.