François Pervis

François Pervis will carry the Olympic torch. This is his story:

François feels deeply honoured to carry the Olympic torch, seeing it as the pinnacle of his journey that saw him selected for every Olympic Games from Athens 2004 through to Rio 2016. He also guided a visually impaired cyclist on a tandem in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. His dedication to the Olympic and Paralympic Games is unwavering.

For an athlete like him, participating is a true honour, and winning a medal there is the ultimate achievement. His journey with the Games began in the best possible way, making his debut in Athens, the birthplace of Olympism, when he was just in his early twenties. In a career spanning 22 years, François fought hard, dedicating himself to rigorous training, pushing past failures, tumbles and injuries and making one sacrifice after another, all in pursuit of Olympic gold.

While he did not achieve his ultimate goal, he harbours no regrets because he gave it his all with honour and pride. As the only French athlete in sporting history to have won both Olympic and Paralympic medals, François feels immense pride, a sentiment he will continue to carry as a torchbearer. For him, this honour encapsulates everything he stood for throughout his career: respect for the rules, self-improvement, excellence and his motto: Citius, Altius, Fortius — "Faster, Higher, Stronger".