Mocked at school, titanic record, guaranteed medal… Who is Alexandra Martinet, the French Paralympic judoka ?

Sandrine Martinet (à droite) est certaine de rapporter sa cinquième médaille paralympique. dpa – Karl-Josef Hildenbrand

Grâce à un combat remarquable en demi-finale contre la Chinoise Li Liqing, la Française Sandrine Martinet s’assure a minima une médaille d’argent aux Jeux Paralympiques de Paris ce jeudi 5 septembre.

Four seconds of combat, and already a waza ari in the teeth. And yet, Sandrine Martinet, 41 years old, did not panic. No doubt experience for the quadruple Paralympic medalist (1 gold, 3 silver). Because as the minutes passed, and despite the tenacious vivacity of the Chinese Li Liqing, the Frenchwoman took the upper hand. Until equalizing with one minute to go in the fight. Golden score. And in the finale, the Rio Paralympic champion made the Chinese woman crack to secure her ticket for the final in the – 48 kg.

To win the gold, the native of Montreuil will have to overcome the unbeatable Kazakhstani, Akmaral Nauatbek, world number one and former able-bodied athlete.

Titanic record, mocked at school

Sandrine Martinet is nevertheless assured of bringing home a fifth trinket for her sixth Games. Introduced to the Paralympic program, women's para-judo has not known a Paralympiad without the Frenchwoman, who only reached the podium in 2012. She broke her ankle in the semi-finals.

This fifth medal would conclude (or not?) a titanic career. Three times world champion, European champion, French champion twelve times… A list of achievements as long as her judogi.

Martinet put on her first kimono at the age of 9. A way for her to get rid of the teasing caused by her disability. “As a child, I was trying to channel my energy, and especially my anger, because I was teased at school because of my visual impairment. I have achromatopsia, a genetic disease that causes a lack of color vision, sensitivity to light and a significant reduction in visual acuity”, she explained before the Games.

After her career, Martinet plans to devote herself fully to her job as a physiotherapist.