“Paris 2024 was the challenge of my life”: Tony Estanguet, brilliant captain of the Games, a future in politics?

With a few more weeks of work (assessments and hearings) left on the subject of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Tony Estanguet has established himself as a central figure in French sport this summer. Audible and credible, he has managed to unite against all odds.

Tony Estanguet, future Minister of Sports? There would be a logic to all this after the great (worldwide) success of the Olympic and Paralympic Games of Paris 2024. But the timing seems complicated. Since the latter will still have to account for the Games until the end of the year. Financial reports, hearings and meetings are still on his schedule.

The triple Olympic slalom champion in Sydney (2000), Athens (2004) and London (2012) did well again on Sunday evening, as he closed this summer of celebration and communion.

After his very successful speeches during the Olympic Games, he once again managed to thrill all those who listened to him, from the Stade de France.

« Although these emotions were fleeting, the memory of this historic summer will remain etched in our minds. This summer when the crowd danced in the streets of Montmartre, waiting for the cyclists. This summer when people talked to each other, this summer when France was happy, the strength of the emotions we experienced together, is also about leaving a mark. When Léon Marchand made an entire country scream in rhythm every time he raised his head above water, it gave thousands of children the desire to push open the door of a swimming club. (...) The emotions we experienced united us.« 

« Thank you all. Paris 2024 was the challenge of my life. The biggest, the most beautiful and the most collective. Dear Paralympic revolutionaries, The Paris 2024 Games are ending, but their message does not fade away tonight, let's continue to try, to fail, to get up, to believe and above all, let's continue to dare..«