Renaud Clerc

Started: He took up the sport in 2016. He began competing in 2017. (ladepeche.fr, 24 Mar 2018; Athlete, 20 Aug 2018) Reason: He was born into a family of sports enthusiasts. He took part in skiing, climbing, rugby and then kayaking. He initially began practising athletics as physical preparation for kayaking. (lamutuellegenerale.fr, 25 Apr 2019; Athlete, 20 Aug 2018; ladepeche.fr, 24 Mar 2018) Ambition: To win a medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. Outside of sport, he aspires to work as a business lawyer. (ladepeche.fr, 26 Jun 2024) Awards: In 2015 he received the medal for merit at the French national kayaking championships. (ladepeche.fr, 24 Mar 2018) Additional Info: MOVE TO PARIS After missing out on the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, he moved from Albi, France, to Paris, France, and began training at the National Institute of Sport, Expertise and Performance [INSEP] ahead of the 2024 Paralympic Games. "[Missing out on Tokyo] is a regret without being one. When you're on the shortlist of qualifiers, you want to go. However, I was young, and I knew that, if all went well, I could do the Paralympics until 2032. And then it also allowed me to settle down, do things for boys my age, go on vacation. I miss Albi a little sometimes, running on the banks [of the Tarn River]. But I had to leave if I wanted my career to take on another dimension. I'm soaking it up [in Paris]. I wanted to be in Paris to feel the Games. I'm from the generation that has been talking about the Paris Paralympics for years." (ladepeche.fr, 26 Jun 2024) ATHLETICS OVER KAYAKING After competing in both sports growing up, he chose to focus on athletics instead of kayaking. "[In athletics] we are in direct competition with others, we are solely responsible for our victories and defeats. Athletics also remains 'the' discipline of the Paralympic Games." (lequipe.fr, 20 Jan 2021)

Sporting Relatives: His grandfather has been president of the kayaking club in Albi, France. (France 3 Occitanie YouTube channel, 01 Nov 2019)