Portal brothers, connected even in water – Libération

2024-08-31 19:35:19

Silver and bronze medals in the 400m freestyle behind the Belarusian legend Ihar Boki, the brothers from Saint-Germain-en-Laye once again proved their commitment.

They still do, but not completely. This Saturday at 7:30 p.m., in a Paris La Défense Arena heated to white heat by their combined 400m Freestyle, Alex and Kylian Portal climbed together on the podium as they did during the world championships in Manchester in 2023. Except for this information: if Kylian, 17 years old, was again adorned with bronze, the eldest Alex, 24 years old, won silver instead of gold, nabbed by Ihar Boki. The beautiful and most medaled Belarusian, competing under the neutral flag as 88 Russians and Belarusians who have competed in these Paralympics due to the invasion of Ukraine (1), bagged his third medal in three days and the title Nineteenth Paralympic in his dizzying career. It gives visibility to the acronym “AIN” (for “individual exceptional athlete”) which adorns the white banner that accompanies the podiums of these winners, and it is a chance to hear the Paralympic song again.

“I see a shadow ahead”

Chance that Alex Portal would have done well without, not hiding his great sadness, in tears while the crowd cheered the two brothers. And the traditional skid followed the race. Kylian, no, who confirmed that the old gold digger will need some time to clear the last 100 meters that Boki put in his face when he was in the lead until 250 meters. “But you must be proud of yourself, he three compliments in three days [après l’argent sur le 100 m papillon et le bronze sur le 100 m dos] ! I am so proud of him!” About his own race, one that Guillaume Domingo, manager of swimming operations for the French Para-Sports Federation, described as “feu”intended with a large (and frequent) smile: “I saw a shadow ahead, I told myself I could go back and I did 50 meters of my life!” Here he killed his brother to comfort him.

But if Alex Portal then tries to put on a good face, on the podium and then in front of the media, his appearance is not happy, it makes you want to give him a hug. “I’m looking for something else… I would love to be able to make us an extra Marseillaise, we would have had it together, but hey, that’s the sport, how it is…” ; I didn’t do the right thing… I let Boki’s pace take me from time to time… I think I should have finished the game a little earlier.” ; «but hey, three medals in three races, I won’t complain about it…”. Knowing that he still has the 200m freestyle left on Tuesday … where he will meet Boki, his black cat.

Take it under your wing

Likewise, Alex Portal did not forget to greet Kylian, “what he has done is very much, and he is fully entitled to it”. In fact, these two Portals were never without my brother. Finding yourself competing in the same event? They know the scene well, they appreciate it, like it, even favor it. In the middle of the 400, the brothers swim side by side, in lines 4 and 5, Alex is close to Kylian in order to benefit from the brace event. Carrying one’s heart under one’s wing, especially in water: this is almost love shows a great desire to move towards others. Ebel and Cain’s speech can go and dress again, in this brotherhood, and neither wants to drown the other.

They are united by the same disability, ocular albinism, a genetic disease that prevents them from seeing clearly more than one meter and which makes their retinas ultrasensitive to light. Niac competitive too, obviously. It is favored by the sports family biotope over many generations – their mother Virginie is also participating in these Paralympics, in the “start” category (responsible for giving the start) of women’s events.

But these common points can exist without more relationships, moreover “he, she, I am” will be acceptable, not everyone is good for family fusion. Instead, the brothers from Saint-Germain-en-Laye seem to feed themselves in finding each other, say they are confused, play on it, this Saturday evening by getting up wearing the same red bob. Obviously, we are thinking of the tennis brothers of Alexis and Félix Lebrun, who moved and made France famous during the Olympic Games. Work, family, siblings, the new French “feel good” slogan?

(1) Russia and its allies Belarus have been banned from the Olympic and Paralympic games after the defeat of Ukraine in February 2022. Athletes are allowed to participate in competitions (but not ceremonies) under certain conditions, after research shows that they are not provided. support to the war in Ukraine.

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