French Paralympic officials celebrated the remarkable achievements of their athletes at the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics, held from March 4 to 13, 2022, where the team secured 12 medals, including seven golds, placing France fourth in the medal table. The French Handisport Federation praised the athletes’ determination over the 10-day competition, highlighting their ability to deliver under pressure despite challenging conditions and expectations.
Standout Athletes
- Arthur Bauchet: The 21-year-old from St. Tropez was France’s most decorated athlete, dominating alpine skiing with gold medals in the downhill, super combined, and slalom, plus a bronze in the giant slalom. His versatility and composure marked him as a standout star.
- Benjamin Daviet: As France’s flagbearer at the Bird’s Nest Stadium opening ceremony, Daviet added to his illustrious career with golds in the cross-country skiing knockout sprint and the 12.5km individual biathlon. He also secured silvers in the cross-country skiing middle distance (freestyle) and the 4×2.5km open relay alongside Anthony Chalencon and guides Brice Ottonello and Alexandre Pouyé. His performances built on his three golds from the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Paralympics.
- Cécile Hernandez: Hernandez claimed gold in the snowboard cross, showcasing her skill and resilience in a highly competitive field.
- Maxime Montaggioni: Montaggioni triumphed in the snowboard banked slalom, adding another gold to France’s tally and reinforcing the team’s strength in snowboarding.
- Marie Bochet: The veteran alpine skier, a former flagbearer in 2018, earned a silver in the super giant, contributing to France’s strong showing in alpine events.
- Hyacinthe Deleplace: Competing with guide Valentin Giraud-Moine, Deleplace secured a bronze in the visually impaired alpine downhill, rounding out France’s medal haul.
Emotional Journey and Team Spirit
Frank Bignet, national technical director of the French Handisport Federation, lauded the athletes’ determination, noting that each day of the Games was filled with “intense emotions going from joy to joy to disappointment.” He tweeted that the French team’s performances would serve as “a source of inspiration for competitors at the Paris 2024 Olympics,” highlighting their broader impact on the Paralympic movement. Jean Minier, France’s chef de mission in Beijing, acknowledged that the results fell short of expectations but emphasized the athletes’ all-out effort, stating, “The athletes did everything they could, and we must really salute their performance.”
France’s Place in the Medal Table
France’s 12 medals—seven gold, three silver, and two bronze—secured fourth place in the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics medal table, behind hosts China (18 golds, 61 total medals), Ukraine (11 golds, 29 total medals), and Canada (8 golds, 25 total medals). The team’s 15 athletes competed across four sports: alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding, demonstrating versatility and depth.
Legacy and Future Prospects
The Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics marked a historic moment as Beijing became the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Paralympics. The competition venues in Yanqing (para alpine skiing) and Zhangjiakou (para Nordic skiing and para snowboard) will be transformed into ski resorts, leaving a lasting legacy for winter sports in China. For France, the performances in Beijing set a strong foundation for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, where the team aims to build on their 183 Winter Paralympic medals, including 66 golds, since 1976.
The success of athletes like Bauchet, Daviet, Hernandez, and Montaggioni underscores France’s growing prowess in para winter sports. Their achievements, coupled with the emotional return of veterans like Bochet, signal a bright future as France prepares to host the Paris 2024 Paralympics, where the team’s Beijing exploits are expected to inspire the next generation.
