They are in La Rochelle for a week of intensive training. Twenty young swimmers with disabilities from the Philippe Croizon academy take advantage of the holidays to get a change of scenery. In the program, one or two sessions at the Lucien Maylin swimming pool each day, but also outings. And in everyone’s mind, there are the 2022 French Handisport Swimming Championships, which will be held on June 4 in Valenciennes, in the north of France.
Nolan Jalby and Selam Chapuy are still finishing their two and a half hour swimming session. “It was 6×25, 4×50 and 4×100 meters”, details Nolan. Selam continues: “and we were also sprinting, in the medley.” The two teenagers recognize it, the session was intense. They are used to swimming two to four hours every daybut at the moment they are sharing the pool with other people, which makes the sessions a little more complex according to Nolan: “We swim a little slower than the others since we all have a different handicap. Selam no longer has the use of his legs, for me it’s arms and legs… It’s an additional difficulty to overcome.”
On the lands of Philippe Croizon
Yet these young people are used to extreme conditions: two years ago, they swam in relay in the English Channel. Thirty kilometers round trip between capes Gris Nez and Blanc Nez (Pas-de-Calais). More recently, in November 2021, they swam fifteen kilometers in the turquoise waters of Tahiti. So of course, La Rochelle is a bit less exotic, but the stay is appreciated : “It’s more beautiful than in Vichy! [c’est là que leur centre est installé, ndlr]”, rejoices Nolan. It is above all the city where Philippe Croizon lives, adds Selam: “we were able to see it, have an aperitif, chat….”
But it is above all to swim that they are here. With the French Handisport Swimming Championships in sight. And for some it’s Paris 2024 Paralympic Games which are in the corner of the headas for Selam: “It’s one of my dreams! I know it’s going to be complicated to participate. There will be swimmers better than me, others with lighter disabilities who will be able to access the games more easily. But I want to at least try the selections.”
Outings between training sessions to get a change of scenery
The young people train under the gaze and direction of Fabien Maltrait, and according to him the coaches of able-bodied athletes have things to learn from disability training : “Among the able-bodied we should ask ourselves the same questions as us. That is to say that we individualize enormously, according to each swimmer. Among the able-bodied we tend to pool and do the same thing for everyone world.”
In addition to training, teens enjoy a few outings : the La Rochelle aquarium, a catamaran trip or even a visit to Puy du Fou.