Back from the Tokyo Games where she reached the final in her category (class 11) in para table tennis, the young table tennis player Léa Ferney was welcomed as champion this Tuesday, August 31 at the Dijon Ville SNCF station.
“A guard of honor for us, absolutely what!” Said young people preparing to descend the steps of the Dijon SNCF station to reach such or such a platform. In the other direction, “Welcome to Dijon!”, Addressed with big smiles the elected municipal officials to the travelers taking the direction of the reception hall. But it is with impatience that the sixty people who gathered at the end of the morning on Tuesday, August 31, 2021 were waiting for Léa Ferney, the young 17-year-old table tennis player from the Dijon TT club who left Tokyo with a beautiful silver medal. obtained at the Paralympic Games. A very nice medal even in view of his career and his performances in Japan. “Happy” to have gone for such a distinction.
It is obviously with this that she climbed the steps, at the center of attention, very quickly surrounded by her supporters, her relatives in the first place but also her comrades and younger members of the club, her supporters for several years. . His return was experienced with emotion and happiness. With a visibly fulfilled silver medalist, not having hesitated to respond to requests despite the certainly need to recover from an event as memorable as it is trying.
Claire Tomaselli, deputy mayor of Dijon delegate for sports, Stéphanie Vacherot, municipal councilor in charge of disability and inclusion, Georges Mezui, Nora El Mesdadi, David Haegy but also representatives of the Municipal Sports Office, were part of the of the delegation having acclaimed the Paralympic vice-champion.
With this success, Léa Ferney does honor to Dijon and even to the Côte-d’Or (supported in particular by the City and the Department). The only Dijon medalist during this Olympiad, she will be received at the town hall during the month of September. Before that, the youngest of the France Paralympic team will go to Paris for national obligations due to her career.
His return to Dijon could not be missed, while still regretting not having seen more people at the rendezvous to welcome him given his performance. In any case, the applause and other warm marks for the young table tennis player were well deserved.
Time to recover from her return, and Léa Ferney will be present at the Jardin Darcy this Wednesday, September 1, in the Olympic Village from 6 p.m. The competitor is already aiming for Paris 2024, with the ambition to do better and therefore to return to Dijon with gold around her neck.
Reactions:
Celine Ferney
Mother of Léa Ferney
“It was already grandiose, magical, for her to participate in the Games. It is a source of pride for us, for her. Léa had left without pressure and we find her with a silver medal, it’s fantastic, extraordinary. I am very moved to see all these people for their return. It’s impressive.”
Yann Yvray
Educator at Dijon TT
“His participation in Tokyo was already a big success since there was only one place left to qualify. We saw this objective more as a preparation for the 2024 Paris Games. And then she accelerated the pace to qualify from this Olympiad.
This silver medal, it makes me happy for her, especially since I feel that she lives it well, that she manages to manage the sudden media coverage. We would have liked this media coverage to be more widespread over the years.
Our work behind the scenes with Bruno Roux and the good relations we have with the France division and the Gang Xu coach are working well. It has become a quality benchmark for which we have respect at the club. We can only be happy with this award. ”
Claire Tomaselli
Deputy mayor of Dijon delegate for sports
“Her journey to Tokyo was no surprise, we saw her walk for years and we knew she was going to get there. She is only progressing and her performances were becoming more and more important and impressive. We were expecting it and it is a source of pride. Tokyo was the trial run and that gives hope for Paris 2024. Seeing her come back with a medal, we thought about it but we did not talk about it, out of superstition. It is a very, very nice achievement.
Frankly, I’m like a kid. I wanted to cry when she came up the stairs. She is a child from Dijon, a young girl well known at the Fontaine d’Ouche in particular. We all have the impression that our little sister is the winner. It is very moving and it is a great reward for the work that the club has provided, that its educators have provided, the entourage and the support that the family provides. This medal is also for all these people. ”
Carine Montrésor
President of Jumps, for the promotion of high level sport, especially for women
“She is a formidable sportswoman full of pugnacity and determination. A fair reward, for her who had progressed so much in recent years, who trains 15 hours a week, and for sport adapted to the Games. That we can see all his talent at 17 is exceptional. ”
Alix Berthier
Photos: Alix Berthier
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