2024-04-08 11:52:52
“A gift we give overseas.” Marie-José Pérec, three-time Olympic champion, is very proud to be part of the crew which, on June 15, will place the Olympic flame in Guadeloupe, her native island. “I am delighted and proud that we can involve all the Antilles in this great celebration. These are territories where so many champions who have made France shine come from. Paying tribute to them is an incredible opportunity,” underlines Marie-José Pérec, who before setting foot in the West Indies will take on quite a challenge. The crew will first have to cross the Atlantic aboard the Maxi-trimaran Banque Populaire.
On board, two experienced sailors: Armel Le Cléac’h, regular skipper, and Sébastien Josse, his teammate with whom he won the last Transat Jacques Vabre. If we have long imagined that Jean Galfione, the pole vault champion in 1996 who converted to professional sailing, would be legitimately part of the adventure, Banque Populaire, one of the sponsors of the torch relay (with Coca-Cola) has made another choice.
Marie-José Pérec will represent athletes, Marine Loubli – Miss France 2013 and doctor of medicine – civil society. Paris 2024 having wanted all worlds of society to be represented during the torch relay, which will begin on May 9 in Marseille, Banque Populaire also called on, on the cultural side, the actor Alexis Michalik and on the gastronomy side, Hugo Roellinger, Double-starred French chef. If the Maxi Trimaran, a “flying boat” thanks to its foils, is capable of crossing the Atlantic in 6 days, this time the journey is scheduled to last 8, with the crew leaving Brest on June 7.
Armel Le Cléac’h met his teammates this Monday, and will see them again in a few days in Lorient for a two-day mini-course, focusing in particular on safety. “It will not be a cruise on a sailboat but a committed Atlantic crossing (Editor’s note: even if the weather conditions will be milder than during winter races). Security will therefore be very present,” explains Le Cléac’h. The crew will also participate in the life of the boat and in the maneuvers.
“We place ourselves in the same spirit as a crewed crossing. With Sébastien (Josse), we will watch over the teammates. When we contacted them, we explained to them what it was going to look like, they made an informed commitment but I think they don’t really realize it. » Armel Le Cléac’h bursts out laughing: “Everyone will have an incredible experience. For my part, I have the feeling that I have been entrusted with a mission, it is a real pride to bring this flame on board. »
After arriving in Guadeloupe on June 15 at 8 a.m., the sea relay will continue its route to Martinique the next day. A crossing of a few hours this time, with emblematic sportsmen of this island on board: the swordsman Laura Flessel, the swimmer Coralie Balmy, the skipper Kéni Piperol-Dampied and the surfer Thomas Debierre.
#Paris #Olympics #MarieJosé #Pérec #flame #Guadeloupe #week #sea