Léon Marchand, Alexandre Leauté, Céline Boutier and Heïdi Gaugain crowned champions of champions France by the newspaper “L’Équipe”

The swimmer Léon Marchand, the golfer Céline Boutier as well as the para-cyclists Alexandre Leauté and Heïdi Gaugain are rewarded by the newspaper “L’Équipe” with the trophy of French sportsman and sportswoman who marked the year 2023.

This year the editorial staff of The Team crown four champions of champions France instead of the usual two. For the first time, a trophy will also reward a French para-athlete and a French para-athlete, announced Wednesday December 27 the sports daily. They are swimmer Léon Marchand, para-cyclist Alexandre Leauté, golf champion Céline Boutier and para-cyclist Heïdi Gaugain.

Awarded since 1946 for France and 1975 for the world, the Champion of Champions trophy The Team rewards the sportsman and sportswoman who marked the year. Since 2012, the trophy is no longer mixed and distinguishes, for France and for the world, a winner and a laureate. The ranking is established following a secret ballot, closing on November 21. From a list of nominees, each journalist has established his or her list of the most remarkable sportsmen and women, for able-bodied people and now this year for para-sportspeople.

Swimmer Léon Marchand and para-cyclist Alexandre Léauté crowned among men

The French swimming prodigy, Léon Marchand, is elected French champion of champions for the year 2023. The swimmer was crowned thanks to his performances at the Fukuoka World Championships in Japan where he won the gold medal in the 200m medley, 400m medley and 200m butterfly. The French swimmer also became the world record holder in the 400m medley, thus breaking the last record of the American Michael Phelps.

Alexandre Leauté is an immense French para-cyclist, he has added his name for the first time to the list of athletes who have marked the year, becoming champion of French para champions 2023. Five-time world medalist (pursuit, omnium and kilometer on the track, against the time trial and online road race) this summer in Glasgow in Scotland, the French para-cyclist also retained his two European titles (online and time trial) in Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

Golfer Céline Boutier and para-cyclist Heïdi Gaugain crowned among women

Regarding women, golfer Céline Boutier is crowned France 2023 champion of champions. On July 30, she won the Evian Championship, becoming the first French golfer to win a Major in twenty years. She also won the Scottish Open, Malaysian Open, the Drive On Championship.

Heïdi Gaugain, a young para-cyclist, is the first para-sportswoman to become champion of France’s 2023 para champions. She became, at the age of 18, this summer, world champion in individual pursuit at the World Championships in Glasgow in Scotland, also winning a medal. silver in the road race and a bronze in the time trial.