Twenty-four years after the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Saint-Nazaire archer Damien Letulle – now quadriplegic – hopes to participate in the Tokyo Paralympic Games.
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Examples of athletes who have competed in both Olympic Games and games paralympics, we find very few in the world. Specialist in archery, and domiciled for a year at Saint Nazaire, Damien Letulle could become one of them. 24 years after participating in Atlanta Olympics in 1996, he hopes to compete in Tokyo Paralympic Games next year.
Broke in full glory
A little step back is in order. We are in 1996. At 23 years, the young archer is one of the rising values of the discipline in France. 3e in individual and team at the European Championships, the Cherbourg native also won his qualification for the Atlanta Games. In the land of Coca-Cola, Damien Letulle finishes 26e individually and 9e during the team competition, alongside Sébastien Flute, the Barcelona Olympic champion in 1992. A small disappointment, but already, the Norman takes a date for the meeting in Sydney four years later.
Life will decide otherwise. A bad fall in November 1997 will fail to destroy his life and destroy his career hopes.
I sat on a skydome on the roof terrace of the Insep. It broke and I fell 5 meters lower ”.
Diagnosis: a broken spine and more than a month of coma. When he wakes up, Damien is quadriplegic.
I kept mobility in the arms, but not in the hands ”.
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End of career
After more than a year at the Invalides rehabilitation center, the archer cut ties with high-level sport, returned to live in Cherbourg where he created his company Placedusport.com in 2000. In the early days of the Internet, he tried to media coverage of sports … which receive little media coverage. Archery of course, but also table tennis, judo …
I was followed by an American investor and I hired up to 10 people. It lasted a year, but it didn’t work ”.
Later, he will become an advisor to top athletes.
At first disgusted with his discipline, Damien Letulle gradually returned to archery. He passes his state certificate, takes care of the young people of his club, takes over the presidency. Gravity in federal authorities. Until one fine day in 2015 when he decided to stop everything. A year ago, he left the edges of the Channel to come and settle in Saint-Nazaire with his wife.
Technical aids
But shooting arrows itches. He knocks on the door of the Nazairian Archers.
I hadn’t shot an arrow for over 20 years. The feelings quickly returned ”.
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With the help of an engineer friend from Rennes, the archer adapted his equipment by installing a trigger on his (compound) bow that he actuates with his chin.
I also have a technical aid to help me stand straight and another on my wrist to be able to hold the bow ”.
A former high level athlete, Damien only lives for competition. The Paralympic dream is slowly taking shape.
I first thought of Paris 2024, especially since the archery event will be held at Les Invalides where I spent a year in rehabilitation. It would be a great opportunity to close the loop ”.
Tokyo, why not?
The following results, the neo-Nazairien got caught up in the game. And said to himself: “Tokyo, why not? “. He approaches the National Technical Directorate to find out the selection procedures. Places will be expensive to win, especially as the level has skyrocketed in disabled sports.
There will be a continental TQO (Editor’s note: Olympic qualifying tournament) during the European Championships in Olbia. It will be necessary to win it to qualify for Tokyo. Otherwise, there will be a world TQO in Prague which will only be accessible to nations without quotas in the category. You have to be at least a finalist ”.
To live his dream, Damien trains every day, in Saint-Nazaire on targets at 18 m and in Carquefou at 50 m, the Olympic distance. While looking for partners.
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