Not selected for Tokyo, Ludovic Lemoine returns to the French Paralympic collective for Paris 2024. At 36, the wheelchair fencer from Clermont, recently crowned French champion for the 15th time, is at the zenith of his career. And dreams of a third medal, after silver in London (2012) and bronze in Rio (2016).
Absent in Tokyo in 2021, after returning to the race too late to win his selection, Ludovic Lemoine, the wheelchair fencer from Stade Clermontois, will reconnect the threads of his Paralympic adventure in Paris. A journey to the Games that began joyfully in London, with a silver medal, and continued in Rio, 8 years ago, with a second podium.
For his return to full light next September, the 36-year-old from Auvergne dreams of a new consecration, during these Paris Games, which promise to be the pinnacle of his long and beautiful career.
Since Thursday June 20, you have been officially selected for the Paris Paralympic Games. What do you feel ?
I am extremely happy. This is the end of a long selection process which began almost 18 months ago. It was very trying. Generally speaking, it’s been almost 6 years since I embarked on this “goal 2024” project with my coaches and those close to me. What’s great is to see that it’s paying off, all the work we’ve done at all levels. So, these Games at home are going to be fantastic.
This selection was logical given your domination at the national level (1) and your performances in the World Cup…
Yes, I was relatively confident, given my world ranking (7th in saber, 14th in foil, editor’s note). On paper, normally, it was good. But the rankings are still quite tight and a surprise was possible. Now, my selection is validated. Let’s go !
“The idea is to go and get a new medal”
Paris 2024: Clermontois Ludovic Lemoine selected for the 3rd time for the Paralympic Games
These will be your third Games, at 36 years old. The previous two times, you were a team medalist in foil. Will this still be your goal in Paris?
Of course ! The idea is to try to get a new medal. Even if we know that with competition, it will not be easy. But the Games are a magical competition. And we have already shown, as a team, that we can do it. We’re going to try to bring that back.
Do you already know in which events you will compete next September?
Quite honestly, it’s still a bit vague. We should have details in the next 10 to 15 days. For now, I know that I will be competing in the saber and foil events at least individually. On the other hand, the teams are not yet fully formed.
It is by team that your chances of medals are highest in Paris, right?
Yes, because the foil team has won medals at the last three Games. We will be keen to continue the series. With me on the team, we were silver medalists in London (2012) and bronze medalists in Rio (2016). Unfortunately, I was not selected for Tokyo (2021), but my friends also brought home bronze. We would like to make the pass of four.
Vibrating at home: that’s what made me hungry. It came to fruition and it’s great!
Are you returning to the French Paralympic collective, are you experiencing it as revenge?
My journey before Tokyo had been a bit chaotic. I had a long break after Rio. For personal reasons, I needed to take a step back and I returned (to competition) a little late for Tokyo. It took me a while to move up in the world rankings. And above all, the end of the selections was disrupted because of Covid. This had jeopardized my last chances of qualifying.
But when I was preparing for the Tokyo Games, it was for me, potentially, a springboard towards Paris, which was the supreme objective. So, of course, having missed Tokyo, sportingly, it was a failure, but also not the end of the world, since I had immediately planned towards the selections for the Paris Games. Vibrating at home: that’s what made me hungry. It came to fruition and it’s great!
Between now and the Games (2), what will be your program?
We are going to have a lot of gatherings with the France team. During this preparation period, my teammates and I will hardly ever leave each other. Before Paris, we have one final competition left, a World Cup, in Warsaw, from July 4 to 8. This will be the last international rehearsal before the Games.
“It’s going to be fantastic at the Grand Palais”
The Grand Palais, completely renovated, will host fencing and para-fencing competitions. What do you think of this choice by COJOP?
This is going to be fantastic. I have not yet seen the new version of the Grand Palais, but I have already had the pleasure of shooting there once, during a world championship in 2010, organized with able-bodied fencers. It had been a magnificent event. I really want to go back and rediscover this fabulous atmosphere.
And on a sporting level, was this World Cup in Paris successful for you?
Yes, because we were team bronze medalists in foil. But individually, I failed in the quarter-final, beaten 15-14, just one touch short of the podium. I will be keen to go further this time.
Raphaël Rochette
(1) Recently, in Troyes, he won his 15th French champion title and the third in a row, in sabre.
(2) The para-fencing events will take place from September 3 to 7.
(3) The organizing committee for the Olympic and Paralympic games.
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