In mid-September, Wheel’In, the indoor bike park located in Aubière, highlights the “Wheelers”, international French rugby players licensed by ASM, after their return from the Paralympics who work together to promote Wheelchair Rugby , with Handi’s School organized.
Adrien Chalmain, its founding chairman, is the creator of wheelchair rugby in Auvergne with ASM Omnisports. He sought out Nikola Valentim, a young high school student at the time, to join him in ASM and later the Blues. The former ASM rugby day captain captained the French national team for four years and participated in three Olympics (London, Rio and Tokyo)
This year, blues ranks sixth in the world with climbs since 2012.
If the Tokyo Olympics Blues stalled in the group stage, they gained more maturity for the next Olympic events.
“This Olympics, behind closed doors, was frustrating without an audience,” explained Nicholas Valentin. On the other hand, it is good that our sport, and our disabled sport in general, is more widespread. This is encouraging for the 2024 Olympic Games to be held in Paris.
The innkeeper Adrien Chalmain, the “father” of this team, has a great deal of experience in it.
“Looking back, those games were the best for me while I didn’t play this time around. We both grew and grew in size. My role was to listen, figure out the details and create cohesion. I really appreciate that role along the athlete who values more the individual and his place in the group.” Today we are in our global position and stronger in the face of the perspectives of Paris 2024. At Wheel’In we talk about wheelchair rugby, but we also know how to play. A large number of guests, in a very combative and friendly environment, have already tried this system that Wheel’In offers to everyone as well as bicycles, balance bikes and scooters for the holidays
