Torch relay stage 45: The Olympic torch sparkles in the land of champagne

The Olympic Torch sparkles in the Marne. Paris 2024 / Lewis Joly / SIPA PRESS

Last Sunday, the Olympic torch relay made a major tour of the Champagne country, starting from the prestigious vineyards of Reims and passing through the cobbled streets of Sézanne and the emblematic Avenue du Champagne in Épernay, highlighting not only the rich heritage of the area, but also its natural and agricultural landscape, especially as it crossed the picturesque Lac de Der lake.

This relay not only highlighted the rich heritage of the area, but also its natural and agricultural landscape, especially as it crossed the picturesque Lac de Der lake. The event featured a collective relay dedicated to adapted sports, with more than 150 torchbearers taking part, including notable athletes such as boxer Tony Yoka and local athlete Yohann Diniz, who concluded the day by lighting the celebration’s cauldron in Reims.

The relay started its route in Vitry-le-François, passing emblematic places such as the Porte du Pont, the town hall and the Place d’Armes. This route was symbolic, as Vitry-le-François had previously hosted the Olympic torch in 1967, before the Grenoble Winter Olympics. The torch then made its way to Giffaumont-Champaubert, crossing the Lac du Der in a “dragon boat”, a large vessel with a crew of oarsmen.

The relay also emphasised the region’s heritage with visits to the cathedral of Saint Etienne in Châlons-en-Champagne, the statue of Dom Pérignon in Sainte-Menehould and the medieval streets of Sézanne. In Épernay, the torch ran along the famous Avenue de Champagne, home to the main champagne producers, before lighting up emblematic sites in Reims such as the Parc de Champagne, the Saint Rémi basilica, the Auguste Delaune stadium and Notre Dame cathedral.

A total of 157 torchbearers took part throughout the day, celebrating many champions who have brought glory to France. Among them was Tony Yoka, Olympic gold medallist in boxing at the Rio 2016 Games, and other talented athletes such as Nwal-Endéné Miyem, basketball player and medallist at London 2012 and Tokyo 2021, Elsa Millart, three-time world champion in Paralympic artistic swimming, Véronique Pierron, speed skater who has competed in four Olympic Games, and Manon Durand, world silver medallist in canoeing.

The relay also included athletes from non-Olympic disciplines, such as Marina Rousserie, an Ironman World Championship competitor, Laurence Klein, European champion and 100km silver medallist, and Inès Lanz, one of Marne’s top pétanque players. Among the torchbearers were everyday heroes and dedicated individuals, such as Mélanie Verbeure, who introduces her granddaughter with cystic fibrosis to various sports, and Michelle Masson, who has dedicated more than 40 years to the gymnastics club Association Gymnique Rémoise.

Laurent Trentler, physiotherapist for the French adapted ski and tennis teams, also carried the torch, highlighting the celebration of adapted sport in Châlons-en-Champagne. Châlons-en-Champagne is the cradle of adapted sport, thanks to the efforts of ASAC Les Matelots and the organisation of several world championships. The French Federation of Adapted Sport organised a collective relay, led by Thierry Washetine, the first French world champion in adapted sport in the javelin.

The day concluded with Yohann Diniz, an emblematic figure in race walking, lighting the cauldron of celebration. At 46, Diniz, a native of Epernay, is a three-time European champion, world champion in the 50km race walk and a two-time Olympian. His presence gave a special meaning to the event, marking the end of a day that celebrated both the heritage and the sporting spirit of the Champagne region.



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