Dimitri Pavadé at the foot of the podium behind the extra-terrestrial Markus Rehm, the summary of the French athletics at the Paralympics

Dimitri Pavadé était en lice sur le saut en longueur des T64. EPA – ALI HAIDER

Le pensionnaire du club de Tournefeuille (Haute-Garonne), Dimitri Pavadé, termine 4e du concours de saut en longueur (T64) ce mercedi 4 août. L’Allemand Markus Rehm l’emporte logiquement.

The time trial race was almost won by Dimitri Pavadé (35 years old). The resident of the Tournefeuille club (Haute-Garonne), victim of a ruptured cruciate ligament on his leg amputated in 2023, had managed to recover in time for the “Paras”. The Tokyo Olympic vice-champion, on one leg since 2007 and a work accident, had even broken his French record in July, with a mark of 7.59m.

But the feelings were not as good at the Stade de France this Wednesday evening. His first jump, marked at 7.43m, remained on the podium for a long time. But American Jarryd Wallace overtook him on the 5th jump (7.49m). His compatriot Derek Loccident finished second (7.79m).

Markus Rhem stronger than the able-bodied, French aim for the medal this Thursday

All these competitors were not fooled. They knew that the gold medal was out of reach. Simply because an alien has been dominating the long jump for too many years. The German Markus Rhem (36 years old), triple Paralympic champion, seven times world and European champion, is on another planet. His world record: 8.72m, achieved in 2023. This year, the able-bodied Olympic champion won gold in… 8.48m.

Why he doesn't compete in the able-bodied category ? World Athletics believes that his prosthesis, used since his leg was amputated at the age of 14 (wakeboarding accident), is too favourable for him. Recently, he admitted his desire to beat Mike Powell's record and his 8.95m, achieved in 1991.

Earlier in the evening, the legend of French para-athletics, Pierre Furbank, 53 years old and ten medals including one gold, did not do better than 5th in the 100m in the T57 category (wheelchair). This Thursday, he will aim for a podium in the 800m, a discipline in which he won bronze in 2021.
Finally, in another 100m, the T11 (visually impaired), the Frenchman Timothée Adolphe did the job. With a cannon time of 11’11&rdquo Alongside his guide Charles Renard, he finished second in the semi-finals. His final is scheduled for this Thursday at 7:08 p.m.