Roberto Michel

Started: He took up the sport in 2018. (Athlete, 07 Nov 2019) Reason: He was inspired by Mauritian Para athletes Noemi Alphonse and Mehfooz Oozeer. (Athlete, 07 Nov 2019) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (lemauricien.com, 25 Sep 2020; mauritiusparalympic.org, 19 Jul 2023) Awards: He and fellow athletics competitor Noemi Alphonse were flag bearers for Mauritius at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (medias.paris2024.org, 28 Aug 2024) He was named Para Athlete of the Year in the physical impairment category at the 2019 National Sports Awards in Mauritius. (zordi.mu, 16 Feb 2020) Additional Info: EARLY DAYS He gained confidence in himself after he began taking the sport more seriously and started working with coach Jean Marie Bhugeerathee. "I started with swimming and athletics. We practised at Maryse Justin Stadium in Reduit [in Mauritius], and it was there that I discovered wheelchair racing. When I saw the competition equipment, I was impressed. Before, I was always nervous but since then I have been much calmer. I let go of all my anger on the wheelchair. With Jean Marie, the work is serious. Quickly I realised that I had to choose between swimming and athletics. I do not regret this choice. I take this opportunity to encourage people with an impairment to get into sport." (5plus.mu, 03 Oct 2019)