Paris 2024 Paralympics | Para triathlon - Alexis Hanquinquant aims for the double: “It would be a great achievement for me and my family”

Flag-bearer for the French delegation at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Para triathlete Alexis Hanquinquant, 35, will be looking to defend the title he won at Tokyo 2020 in just a few days' time. He spoke at a press conference.

Crowned Paralympic Para triathlon champion at the Tokyo 2020 Games three years ago, France's Alexis Hanquinquant is just a few days away from defending his crown around the Pont Alexandre III. The 35-year-old native of Yvetot, who is also a six-time world champion in the PTS4 category, will also be carrying the French flag this Wednesday evening at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

"I'm very happy and proud to be able to represent my country with Nantenin Keïta,” he enthused on Monday afternoon at a press conference held at the Centre Principal des Médias. We're very complementary and we're going to try to give the best possible message of inclusion and sport for all. We're talking about Paralympic sport, and therefore high-level sport, but we know that in France there's a major challenge to develop accessibility to sport for all. We're going to try and get all these messages across with this flag! We've got a great delegation, and we're going to do everything we can to get as many people as possible into the stadiums."

Alexis Hanquinquany: “I think we're going to have some pretty exceptional Paralympic Games”

When it comes to his sporting objectives, they're simple: Alexis Hanquinquant, world number one, is simply aiming for the Paralympic double. “I've worked very hard, both physically and mentally, to achieve my dream of a gold medal. I want to be ready on D-Day,” he confides. It would be a great achievement for me and my family. I think I can say that my Games would be a complete success if I'd won this gold medal and been flag bearer.

To achieve this, the Frenchman is counting on the support of the Parisian public, who are expected to turn out in force. “There are a lot of differences with Tokyo. First of all, Covid isn't here anymore, so you can see the excitement. There's going to be a big crowd. The Olympic Games were a huge success, with lots of spectators, great enthusiasm and a great atmosphere. Of course, we're all hoping to experience that at the Paralympic Games too. We've got some monstrous iconic sites, and we're going to get an eyeful. Paris is the most beautiful city in the world. I think we're going to have some pretty exceptional Paralympic Games,” he hopes.

Having felt “very proud to be French” at the Olympic Games, Alexis Hanquinquant is keen to build on this success by doing his compatriots proud. “The Paralympic Games aren't just Games on the cheap, they're Olympic Games with a difference. In the end, disability means nothing. We're all disabled, we all have our little differences,” he said. The first leg is over, now there's the second leg. Come and cheer us on, you won't be disappointed. The party goes on.”