2024-03-22 05:31:00
the essential Laurent Besançon, heavy goods vehicle driver in Espère, will be at the 2024 Paralympic Games. But not as a simple spectator, he will be at the edge of the pools. This Lotois was selected as a judge for the para-swimming events. The dream of a lifetime.
“It’s going to be a great moment, I’ll never forget it,” smiles Laurent Besançon, a heavy goods vehicle driver in Espère. The latter was selected to be a judge for the paranation events at the Olympic Games, which take place between August 29 and September 7, in Paris. A godsend for someone who has been officiating since 2012.
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“My son started swimming when he was 4 years old. I followed him to his competitions. Instead of staying on the bench doing nothing, I decided to take the exams to become an official. That way, I could be at the edges of the pools and I was useful”, confides the Lotois. It was in 2018 that he switched from swimming to para-swimming. “I discovered disabled sports during the Rio Olympics in 2016. And I said to myself: why not join the disabled sports federation?”, says Laurent. And since then, he has not left the edge of the pools, nor para-swimming.
“The event of a lifetime”
The one who lives in Espère is the referee. This means that you need to know the rules for each type of swimming. “If a swimmer does not respect it, he is disqualified. In butterfly, for example, the arms must be brought above the surface of the water at the same time,” says Laurent Besançon. How was he selected for the Olympics? “This was done at the federation level. Our national referent had given a list of names. And in 2023, there was a competition for the World Para Swimming (World Para Swimming Championships) in Limoges, it is the first time that this has taken place in France. We were put to the test during this competition. The delegate looked at our way of proceeding as a judge. And at the end, he made his list.” describes Laurent. And when his name appears there, there is an explosion of joy. “It’s going to be an incredible experience. It only happens once in a lifetime. I’m 53 years old, and even if the Olympics come back to France, I won’t be able to do it again. When I learned of my selection, I was moved. It’s nice,” smiles the Lotois. For him, being a judge at the Olympics is “the event of a lifetime”.
Until August, no special preparation. “We will have to work a little on English because it will be the spoken language. And certainly a little physical preparation. It is 10 days of non-stop competition with important schedules,” supposes the Lotois. So, to prepare, does he swim? Well, no! He likes to be at the edge of the pools, but not in the water! And to go further, with the other official French judges, they have a small working group to discuss the competition together.
Para-swimming: “a big family”
If he is often on the road for his job, Laurent is also there for his passion. This weekend, he is going to Aix-en-Provence for a regional championship. In June, he will travel to Limoges again for the final round of World Para Swimming, which allows swimmers to qualify for the Olympics. “It’s going to be great, some swimmers will come and seek titles to qualify at the last minute,” laughs Laurent.
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Para-swimming, for the heavy goods vehicle driver, is more than a passion. “What I like are the performances of the athletes, who do things with missing limbs. It’s a great life lesson. It moves me a lot. They go beyond the disability, they give themselves to background. I know French swimmers, they don’t bother. In disabled sports, we’re a big family!”, concludes the Lotois, with stars in his eyes.
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