Sainte-Affrique: Hélène Parisot on track to qualify for the Olympic 200 meter semi-final

L'hommage à Hélène Parisot est accroché sur la façade de l'hôtel de Ville de Saint-Affrique. MIDI LIBRE – J.M COGNOT

L'athlète sera au départ du 200 mètres féminin ce dimanche 4 août à 11 h 11 au stade de France. 

As part of the Olympic Games, Hélène Parisot from Saint-Affrique, 31, will be at the start of the women's 200m this Sunday, August 4, at 11:11 a.m., on the track at the Stade de France. She will try to qualify among the first three in the third series. There are six series of eight sprinters in total. The first three in each series will qualify for the semi-finals, which take place tomorrow (Monday). The final is scheduled for Tuesday.

“She prepared and trained at Insep,” comments her father Gérard Parisot. “She returned to the Olympic Village on Thursday. We are happy, optimistic and above all very proud.” The latter and his wife Sara will be in the stands today at the Stade de France to watch their daughter race.

Support from the City of Saint-Affrique

For its part, the City of Saint-Affrique supports Hélène Parisot. A large banner with her image is hanging on the facade of the city hall. "After welcoming the Brazilian women's rugby 7s team for its Olympic preparation, Saint-Affrique Land of Games will continue to vibrate to the rhythm of the Paris Olympics in the coming days," declares Mayor Sébastien David.

"On behalf of the municipality and the people of Saint-Affrique, we would like to give Hélène Parisot our support and all our encouragement to push her towards the finals. A recent double medallist at the European Athletics Championships in Rome, she spent a large part of her youth in Saint-Affrique where her father was the director of the agricultural high school in La Cazotte."

In Rome, in June, Hélène Parisot won the bronze medal in the individual 200 m in 22' 63''. With the French team, she won the title of European vice-champion in the four times hundred meter relay.