Charles-Antoine Kouakou

Started: He took up athletics at age 13 in Drancy, France, after first trying football, judo, and karate. "I tried several disciplines, long jump, high jump, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m. I did a bit of everything, and eventually I chose my specialty, which is 200m and 400m." (france-paralympique.fr, 01 Jan 2024; Brut YouTube channel, 01 Nov 2023; leparisien.fr, 20 Jul 2018) Reason: His father encouraged him to focus on athletics. At age 18 his talent was noticed and he integrated into the national training group. (lemag.seinesaintdenis.fr, 03 Jul 2017) Ambition: To win a gold medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. "It's a home Games, so I must win." (Brut YouTube channel, 05 Sep 2023) Milestones: His gold medal in the men's T20 400m at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo was France's first ever Paralympic athletics medal won by an athlete in a class for intellectual impairments [T20, F20]. (SportsDeskOnline, 01 Jan 2024) Awards: He was named as a torch bearer for the 2024 Olympic Torch Relay. (sportadapteiledefrance.org, 16 Jan 2024) In 2021 he was named Knight of the Legion of Honour in France after winning gold at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (aede.fr, 01 Oct 2021; legifrance.gouv.fr, 08 Sep 2021) Additional Info: OCCUPATION He has worked as a gardener with ESAT, a structure in France that offers supported work opportunities to people with an impairment. (lequipe.fr, 15 Jul 2023; fondshs.fr, 04 Jun 2020; aede.fr, 01 Mar 2020)