Although Yannick Ifébé will not be taking part in the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games as an athlete, he is nonetheless enthusiastic as a passionate Parisian. "I experienced the Olympics as an athlete and now I'm going to experience them as a sports lover. I think it's going to be a wonderful celebration."
Yannick Ifébé is a seasoned sportsman. A multiple medallist at the World, European and French Championships, he is no stranger to the Games, having won the gold medal at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in the epee team armchair fencing event.
From an early age, he tried many disciplines at his specialist centre and fell in love with fencing, which he started around the age of 7. "I was a fan of Zorro and Star Wars, so I fell in love with the sport and never let it go," he explains.
Like many fencing enthusiasts, he praises all the qualities that the sport cultivates: speed, reflexes and above all the notion of respect.
(https://parisjetaime.com/data/layout_image/42624_Yannick%20Ifebe%20Portrait-%C2%A9%20Paris%20je%20t%27aime.jpg) © Paris je t'aime
The fencer trains at the Cercle Sportif de l'Institution Nationale des Invalides, in the neighbourhood of the same name. So he knows the south of Paris well, and this area in particular, where he has been going for over 20 years.
What he likes here is that "it's a beautiful setting and there's a good range of museums. It's quite easy to get around in a wheelchair." And after the effort, the comfort! To take a breather with his team-mates, head for Montparnasse, which is not far away and offers a wide choice of more festive cafés and restaurants.
Impatient to see the races, he is also delighted by the public's enthusiasm for this global event. He also salutes the legacy that the Games will leave, particularly in terms of accessible transport in Paris. A great adventure shared by all.
