To finally taste Paralympic gold, Timothée Adolphe will have to make it to Los Angeles in 2028. In Paris, the visually impaired French sprinter added two more silver medals to his collection, which now totals three. But if “the white cheetah” can regret his defeat on the return leg (second in the 400 metres on Sunday), he has little to blame himself for on the straight. Collapsed four days earlier, his appearance was much less devastating on Thursday 5 September, after his second second place in the competition.
The Île-de-France resident finished second in the 100m in 11.05 seconds, ahead of world record holder and reigning champion Athanasios Ghavelas of Greece in 11.02 seconds, erasing the season’s best time held by Timothée Adolphe – who he tied on Thursday. China’s Di Dongdong took third place (11.08).
Exhausted by three more races than his rival Ghavelas (the multiplication of events obliges), he lacked a little juice: “ We are lacking a bit of rhythm. I have three 400-meter laps in my legs. I am a bit tired, we are not going to lie to ourselves.”the Frenchman acknowledged.
The 2024 double Paralympic medallist was nevertheless able to enjoy the atmosphere of the Stade de France for the last time, enjoying a lap of honour and a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron. “ There is frustration but, at the same time, we wanted to enjoy it because we will not find such a warm audience”reacted.
Over 100m, Timothée Adolphe teams up with a new guide, Charles Renard, who is able to run 10s 53s alone in a straight line. In mid-August, the double Paralympic medallist from the Paris Games described World What you expect from a good guide: “You have to know how to decentralize yourself, listen to your own feelings and those of your partner to establish synchronicity.” Until creating a common step, that of the doublet.
“A world record doesn’t give you a medal”
In 2024, Timothée Adolphe and Charles Renard had already run in 11.05 seconds, the best world performance of the year so far. A few weeks before the deadline for the Paralympic Games, the French sprinter showed a mix of confidence and caution. “We are close to getting back under eleven seconds. It gives good indications and is great for a new partner.analyzed. But being number one in the world doesn’t give you medals in advance: you have to confirm the big day.”
Beyond the sporting aspect, Timothée Adolphe took advantage of the sounding board offered by the French Games in June to make his fight for accessibility heard. He spoke publicly after another taxi driver (although he had been warned when booking) refused to take him and his guide dog, Thor. “Sometimes I have eight cancellations at the last minute, when the pilots see me with him”I was outraged.
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