95% less power, hemiplegia, already a giant… Who is Alexandre Léauté, double Paralympic champion ?

Alexandre Léauté, le patron de la poursuite mondiale. MAXPPP – Andrew Matthews

Attendu comme la star de ces “Paras”, Alexandre Léauté, 23 ans, a assumé son statut de grand favori sur la poursuite (catégorie C2).

You see this category of athletes who always manage to assume their status on the day ? That of the greatest, in fact ? Alexandre Léauté has integrated it. At the height of his 23 years, the whirling Breton has invited himself to the table of Riner, Phelps, Bolt and other Ledecky. We are exaggerating a little ? The list of achievements will serve as an element of response. 19 world champion titles (including 6 on the road), continental and national titles galore, now double Paralympic champion… In terms of pure sporting performance, Léauté is already a giant.

Moreover, the pedestal on which the keenest observers of para-cycling had placed him was a bit of a source of anxiety for those around the boy. Announced as the star of these Paralympics, “Alex” had to manage the excitement around him. “In Tokyo, he was the new kid, no one bothered him. There, he was highly anticipated, he was afraid of failure”, says his coach for the past two years, Mathieu Jeanne.

Performance cell

A performance cell has been set up around Alexandre Léauté. The goal: to prepare him for this challenge. Mental trainer, nutritionist, top-notch equipment… “We have professionalized the staff”, Jeanne analyzes.

A system with so many resources is quite rare for a para-athlete. This shows how much the career and results of this “young adult” attract attention, sponsors. His story, too. Victim of a stroke at birth resulting in hemiplegia on the right side of his body, Alexandre Léauté had to compensate for a loss of motor skills and sensitivity in his arm and leg. To sum up, it was as if he had lost 95% of his muscular power. Hence his immense performance. He managed to make up for part of this deficit through hard physical work.

World entry record

However, the arrival at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines velodrome nearly changed everything. “I went into the velodrome, I wasn't feeling well at all”, he says, caught up in the fervour of the crowd and intimidated by the two buses of supporters who had come from Côtes-d'Armor just for him. “I don't have good legs”, he told his coach during the warm-up. A few minutes later, he smashed his world record in the pursuit (3,2400). First relief. Two hours later, he won his first gold medal in Paris. Second relief. And a priori, the beginning of a harvest of trinkets. “It will relieve him and free him up for the future”, promises his trainer. Looking forward to the next deadlines of Alexandre, this giant.

The program. Wednesday, September 4: road time trial. Sunday, September 8: road race.