Béziers native Christophe Carayon will carry the Paralympic flame!

Le Biterrois va porter la flamme paralympique, le 28 août, à Paris.

On August 28, multiple Paralympic champion Christophe Carayon will carry the flame in Paris.

Born in Béziers with a visual impairment, less than 1/10 in each eye after correction, Christophe Carayon started athletics very young, at 11 years old, as an able-bodied athlete, with the Béziers Sports Association. "At that time there were very few structures for the disabled, recalls the Béziers native. I only discovered disabled sport by watching the Seoul games in 1988."

A well-stocked list of achievements

Since then, he has been licensed with Béziers handisport and has pursued his careers in able-bodied and disabled sports simultaneously. He took advantage of his holidays to participate in French team training courses and international competitions. His first international competition took place in 1989, at the European Championships in Zurich. A great success with a title in the 800m, a silver medal in the 1500m and a bronze medal in the 400m. The following year, two world titles, in 800 and 1500m, followed by two gold medals at the 1992 Paralympic Games in Barcelona, ​​over these same distances.

“I stopped my career in 1999, due to an injury, explains Christophe Carayon. In 2000, I passed the competitive exam to become a sports teacher. Then I climbed the ranks of the FF Handisport, until today. I am now the assistant to the national technical director. On August 28, in Paris, I will carry the Paralympic flame. A recognition that I appreciate at its true value because it is rare to be honored after your career. It will be, I am sure, a great emotion, 32 years after the Barcelona games."