Marie Patouillet

Started: She got involved in the sport in 2017, and started track cycling in 2018. (handisport.org, 11 Feb 2020) Reason: She practised handball, running and rugby before deciding to switch sports because running became more difficult for her. She decided to pursue cycling after taking part in the L'Etape du Tour event in 2017, where amateur cyclists can ride the roads of a Tour de France stage. "I began on the road but later I was told that I would improve faster on the track." (handisport.org, 11 Feb 2020) Ambition: To win a medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (francetvinfo.fr, 15 Apr 2023) Awards: She carried the Olympic torch as part of the Olympic torch relay ahead of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. Her leg was in Chartres, France. (France 3 Centre-Val de Loire Facebook page, 07 Jul 2024) In 2019 she received the Performance and Reconversion Award from the Club INSEP Alumni association in Paris, France. (carre-final.com, 27 Nov 2019) Additional Info: MEDICAL AND MILITARY CAREER She worked as a doctor in the French Army for 10 years, and has since worked as a general practitioner in Yvelines, France. In 2020 she joined the Armee des Champions [Army of Champions], the sports branch of the French Armed Forces. "Considering my past stint with the army, I got in touch with the Armee [des Champions]. So it was a way to have a sort of continuity in this corps. Thanks to the contract offered by the Armee, I can devote myself fully to sports performance since I have chosen to no longer consult in order to devote all my time and energy to performance. This partnership allows me to exchange with the many other athletes, Olympic and Paralympic, members of the Armee des Champions." (francetvinfo.fr, 08 May 2020; handisport.org, 10 Jul 2024)