2024-07-24 23:57:04
36-year-old tennis player Kevin Piette, who lost the use of his legs in an accident 11 years ago, has made history by carrying the Olympic torch wearing a robotic exoskeleton.
In a touching video, he can be seen smiling as he passes a waving crowd in Paris as the traditional torch relay nears the end of its route.
The International Olympic Committee called Piette “the epitome of sporting dedication” on its blog.
“Despite an accident that left him a paraplegic 11 years ago, Kevin never gave up,” the statement read. – Instead, he returned to tennis as a para-athlete and became an exoskeleton “pilot” for a company developing a robotic walking device. Carrying the Olympic torch, Kevin inspires people to do sport and promote innovation for people with disabilities!”
Piette wears the latest personal exoskeleton developed by French company Wandercraft, which was officially launched in New York in December.
The battery-powered exoskeleton allows the user to sit, stand, walk, climb stairs and navigate unfamiliar terrain.
A sensor on the back detects when the user wants to walk or stand, and a hand control allows you to change direction and speed.
As one of the first testers of the device, Mr. Piette participated in kibathlons, competitions in which people with disabilities use assistive technologies to perform daily activities.
According to Wandercraft, this is the first time a self-balancing personal exoskeleton has assisted a disabled person in an Olympic torch relay.
The company hopes the device will “mark a significant leap forward in assistive technology” and become the first self-stabilizing walking exoskeleton on the market for everyday personal use.
“It will enable millions of people with walking disabilities to regain mobility and move freely both at home and in the community, increasing their independence and sense of freedom and helping to address the health and well-being issues associated with a sedentary lifestyle,” the company says.
The famous Olympic torch relay is a traditional event that takes place before each summer Olympic Games.
The torch is lit in Olympia (Greece), where the ancient Olympic Games were held more than 2,000 years ago, and is carried in stages to the city where the Olympics are now held.
The torch arrives in Paris this Friday (July 26) ahead of the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics.
Meanwhile, the Paralympics have their own torch relay, albeit a much shorter one. It will be lit in the English village of Stoke Mandeville (which is considered the birthplace of the Paralympic Games) on August 25, and on August 28. will travel to Paris, where the Paralympic Games will begin.
However, Mr. Piette will not participate in the Paralympic Games this summer – because he did not meet the qualification requirements, Wandercraft said.
Adapted from the Daily Mail.
2024-07-24 23:57:04