Alexis Hanquinquant is a para triathlon legend and multiple world champion.
Basketball player and then high-level full-contact boxer, Alexis Hanquinquant has always been a confirmed athlete before becoming a legend in para triathlon. He also became French champion in boxing in May 2010, before, two months later, on August 5, Alexis Hanquinquant was the victim of a construction site accident with his right leg crushed by a machine. “I was in a machine and I got hit in the leg by a bucket.“In September 2013, he asked to have his leg amputated.”Three years later, I decided to have my leg amputated, because this leg was saved medically, but it caused me pain,” he explained to France Info.
He decided to pursue a childhood dream of being a top athlete and took up para triathlon. “Of course it’s a fairly demanding sport that requires a lot of versatility. At the time I was an amputee, I needed a challenge. I had stars in my eyes when I watched the Olympic Games on TV. It made me want to realize this dream of being a top athlete.”
A kick in the prejudices
“I am completely comfortable with my prosthesis, I even chose not to wear any covering around it. I like the “robot” side and I have the tattoos that go with it because I prefer to have fun with it. I have nothing to hide, it’s part of me.”What the triathlete regrets are the insistent looks: “I don’t mind people looking at my prosthesis, because you don’t see one every day, but I would like it to become commonplace and not to be scrutinized. I am convinced that these Paralympic Games will allow us to give a big blow to prejudices, so that the French take an interest in the Paralympic environment and understand that it is a high-level sport and not a fair.”
His track record
- 2023 World Championships Pontevedra Gold Medal PTS4
- 2023 European Championships Madrid Gold Medal PTS4
- 2022 World Championships Abu Dhabi Gold Medal PTS4
- 2022 European Championships Olsztyn Gold Medal PTS4
- 2021 World Championships Abu Dhabi Gold Medal PTS4
- 2021 European Championships Valencia Gold Medal PTS4
- 2021 Paralympic Games Tokyo Gold Medal PTS4
- 2019 World Championships Lausanne Gold Medal PTS4
- 2018 World Championships Gold Coast PTS4 Gold Medal
- 2018 European Championships Tarfu Gold Medal PTS4
- 2017 World Championships Rotterdam Gold Medal PTS4
- 2017 European Championships Kitzbühel Gold Medal PTS4