Cécile Hernandez
Paralympic Champion Beijing 2022
Cécile Hernandez began her sports career, at a time when she was still able-bodied, with international BMX competitions, then discovered snowboarding. But on October 21, 2002, she was struck down by a relapse of multiple sclerosis that completely paralyzed her legs for several months. She completely stopped sports and took refuge in writing. She published two books and became a columnist for Europe 1 in 2011 and a journalist in 2012 for Le Figaro, covering the London Paralympics. In December 2013, she resumed snowboarding, this time in its adapted version, while still working as a journalist. In February 2014, she secured her place in the French delegation for the Winter Paralympics held in Sochi. On March 14, 2014, Cécile won a silver medal, thus entering the history of snowboard cross. On March 7, 2022, the snowboarder won the gold medal at the Beijing Paralympics in snowboard cross. Already the world champion in snowboard cross in Lillehammer earlier that year, Cécile Hernandez thus won her first Paralympic title in Beijing at the age of 47 after several medals in Pyeongchang (2018) and Sochi (2014).
Prices
- Conference : 6000 €
Localization
Languages
Her conferences
The Last Battle
But even though Cécile Hernandez is a double medalist in 2018 at the Pyeongchang Olympics, the snowboarder had to fight after her category was removed by the Paralympic authorities before securing her ticket to Beijing 2022. What caused her problems? The removal of the LL1 category, reserved for snowboarders with a moderate impairment of knee and/or leg function or the absence of one or two legs, by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). This decision was made in 2020 after noting a lack of competitors. It was hard for Cécile to swallow. "I am fully preparing to go to the Games, despite any decision," After several months of waiting, a petition launched, and numerous calls for mobilization, Cécile Hernandez won her battle. The court in Düsseldorf ruled on February 16 against the Paralympic institution (based in Germany). "The values of sport prevailed, I won my ticket to the Beijing Paralympic Games," she wrote on social media after the announcement of the verdict. Resilience - Disability - Overcoming oneself: you will be pumped up after meeting this exceptional woman.