Paris 2024 Paralympic Games: “A little apprehension” for Giana Subiros, a veterinary assistant who is preparing to carry the flame

Le relais de la flamme va reprendre du service. Midi Libre – Michael Esdourrubailh

Giana Subiros va porter la flamme paralympique ce dimanche dans les rues de Montpellier. Un moment qu’elle va partager avec ses proches pour "célébrer l’unité autour du sport".

Three months after welcoming the sacred Olympic flame, the city of Montpellier is doing it again, this Sunday, August 25, with the Paralympic torch relay. 23 torchbearers will take turns between the Promenade du Peyrou and the Place de la Comédie. Among them, Giana Subiros who learned of her selection last January, and for whom it is a “immense pride” and “an honor to be able to participate in this great moment”.

“We don't talk enough about the Paralympic Games”

At 63, this resident of Argelès-sur-Mer started the sport thanks to crossfit, at the instigation of her son. A way of “thinking about yourself after work”, and “taking care of yourself psychologically, mentally, and physically”. She was chosen by one of the sponsors of the torch relay to symbolize the access of sport to all. “I received an email, and I said to myself why not, so I applied. I was selected after the second stage, and I am very happy that this is the case for the Paralympics, with all the symbolism that surrounds it", she commented.

Giana Subiros, who is a veterinary assistant, has no direct link with Paralympism and does not practice adapted sports. Which does not prevent her from looking at these Games, which Paris is hosting for the first time in its history. “We don't talk enough about the Paralympic Games. However, I find that they are even stronger mentally than we are. They were able to rebuild themselves after the trials that life threw at them", she notes.

"We feel invested in something"

With all the symbolism surrounding the Paralympic Games, Giana Subiros nevertheless admits to being intimidated by the event.“It's not every day that you carry the flame. And there will probably be people there, so of course, you feel invested in something. I don't really know how it's going to go ? I'm a little apprehensive, so I'm going to try to do my best, to be smiling and to transmit my joy”, confides the sixty-year-old.

Several thousand people are expected in the streets of the Écusson district to celebrate the Paralympic movement. A “flame festival” will be set up on the Peyrou promenade. BLMA basketball player Romane Bernies, silver medalist with the French team at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, will also be a torchbearer in the streets of Montpellier.

The names of the 23 Paralympic flame bearers in Montpellier

Peggy Piron, Allan Duponchel (creator of an exoskeleton for his tetraplegic brother), Jamel Bourmada, Lily Ramonatxo (gymnastics rhythm), Régis Farré, Corinne Berthoumieu, Nhyrson Simon, Laure-Anne Pierret, Cong Xu, Alban Dompeyre, Didier Guerrini, Sylvain Boubault, Mehdi Deghmache, Cathy Gruninger-Lequeux, Jacques Gruninger, Christelle Meynadier, Gianna Subiros, Louisa Vernaz , Orianne Lopez (para-athletics), Cyril Brun, Emily McCall, Julien Taurines (para-judo), Romane Bernies (basketball).