The double gold medalist at the last Paralympic Games in Rio, four years ago, postpones her work on the profession, seven months before the next edition. The athlete has until the end of August to practice his new scissor technique and find the most suitable blade to go with it.
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After the faculty of Poitiers which, two years ago, baptized its main sports complex with the name of the triple Olympic medalist, Marie-Amélie Le Fur now also has her name which is displayed on the pediment of the CREPS athletics hall. from Poitiers. On Wednesday February 3, the sportswoman inaugurated the building, accompanied by the Olympic judo champion Marie-Claire Restout who gives her name to a dojo, and Alicia Mandin, the first French world champion in adapted para-swimming, she also honored with a swimming pool in her name.
As part of a vast development project for its Vouneuil-sous-Biard site, the renovation of the three buildings aims to raise the facilities to the level of high performance requirements.
As a high level athlete, it is very important to be able to benefit from quality facilities. And of people, trainers and scientists of quality, to really seek this optimization of the gesture and the interface with the equipment.
Moved, she said she was honored “to be alongside these two great champions today” also passed by the CREPS of Poitiers and welcomed this spotlight on women’s and Paralympic sport. The young woman, very committed to the cause of disability, is also president of the French Paralympic and Sports Committee, and has been appointed ambassador, to Antoine Griezman, of the campaign against discrimination.
Marie-Amélie Le Fur, during the inauguration of the athletics hall in her name
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© Romain Burot – France Tv
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At 6 years old, Marie-Amélie Le Fur embraces athletics, in Vendôme (41) where she lives. A scooter accident in 2004 left her amputated below the knee of her left leg. “When I was 15, when I had my accident, sport helped me to accept myself as a person with a disability. Sport was the engine that allowed me to fight and keep moving forward. “
The sportswoman also has a special history with this hall, now in her name. Four years after the accident, then a student in Poitiers, she prepared her first Paralympic Games there, Beijing 2008. And when she resumed competition after the birth of her daughter, it is again this room that sheltered her return. in length contests.
She has since held eight medals won at the Paralympic Games, including three gold. In the 100m in 2012, then in Rio, four years ago, with a first gold medal in the 400m, and the second in the long jump, the champion taking advantage of the competition to win the world record in the process. it will push back a little further, two years later, at 6.01m.
But since last fall, Marie-Amélie’s performances have stalled. Her 5.54m, last October in Marseille during the French handisport championships, decided her to react. Because at the same time, the Dutch Fleur Jong has just taken the world record from her, landing at 6.14m.
The big jump
At 32, the sportswoman is therefore revolutionizing her jumping technique, abandoning the extension, which she has nevertheless taken to its highest level, in favor of the chisel, with the idea of improving the aerial phase of her jump. She hopes to gain about thirty centimeters before Tokyo. “My goals are simple: to win the Games. And today, to win the Games, the competition is so tough that we will have to beat the world record.”
© Alexandre Keirle – France Tv
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To perfect her technique, she had an appointment this Monday, February 1 with researchers from the University of Poitiers who came to dissect her jump.
A 3-dimensional biomechanical analysis of impulse, air phase and reception is performed. It can save a few centimeters which will be important in a final.
Barded with sensors from the head to the tip of the prosthesis, Marie-Amélie thus continues the jumps, under the inquisitive gaze of 16 3D cameras.
the sensors
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© Romain Burot – France Tv
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Takeoff speed, takeoff angle … The momentum is particularly detailed. The measurements taken will allow you to choose the right blade: flexible enough to allow it to pick up speed, but rigid enough not to deform too much on impulse.
We may not choose the best performing blade, but the one that best suits my style of jumping. Knowing that there are only seven months left before the Games, I also have to be able physically and technically to use the blade well. So it’s an alchemy that we will have to find quickly, between now and the Games.
© Alexandre Keirle – France Tv
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As it stands, Tokyo has rescheduled its Paralympic Games from August 24 to September 5, 2021.
Report by Romain Burot with Freddy Vetault and Alexandre Keirle
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