La Gazette du Var met with Jérôme Lauréri.

How did you discover this sport?

I discovered it during my rehabilitation at the Renée Sabran hospital. Several sports were presented to me by the sports instructor, Thibault Barrois. I used to play a team sport, handball. At that time, the most developed team sport in disability sports was wheelchair basketball. During my rehabilitation, I was able to meet the former president of Hyères Handi Basket because we were hospitalized at the same time. On his valuable advice, I was able to approach the coach to introduce myself.

Did this meeting transform your journey?

My rehabilitation was quite long; I underwent two back surgeries. I was able to get my first license at the club in Hyères in September 2009 and really train with the team. I first joined the training sessions and then the team to play alongside the great players I met directly. At the time, there was only the first team, so I had to train hard to reach the level and be able to play with them. The first year, I only participated in training sessions, and from the second year, I started traveling with the team and getting game time. So I was part of the team from 2009 to 2011.

You left the club only to return to it in 2015

Indeed, for four years, from 2011 to 2015, I joined a team in Le Cannet, at

What was your progression up to the Paralympic Games?

I trained to be able to join the France team. My first selection for the France team was in 2012. I stayed until the end of 2015. I took a break from the France team for family reasons. I declined the selections, though I was always called up by the different coaches. In 2019, seeing the Paris 2024 deadline approaching, I started thinking about the possibility of rejoining the group, and the coach contacted me. I participated in the World Championships in 2023 in Dubaï and in the Paralympic Games in Paris in 2024.

What is your classification?

I have the lowest classification, knowing that it ranges from 1 point to 4.5 points. 1 point is the most severe disability and 4.5 points the minimum disability. Combinations must therefore be made based on player profiles and disabilities to have the maximum physical capabilities on the court without exceeding 14 points. The combination of players must be balanced on the court to build a cohesive collective compared to opposing teams.

Who are the players who participated in the Paralympic Games?

Of the 12 players selected for the France team, five of us participated to catch each other's eyes, to wave to one another. We did not win any matches. For the first two matches, we were carried away by the event, by the scale of this support.

An incredible human experience?

On a daily basis during the Games, we only had to think about our sporting goal. Humanly, it was incredible. The organization, the staff, the public, everything was perfect. We were not at our level. We were faced with very strong teams. We are a bit disappointed with the sporting outcome but, humanly, it was crazy. It is hard for me to put into words what I feel.

Your return after the Paralympic Games

When we were in Paris, we could feel this enthusiasm from the public. Back in Var, we realized that people followed us, that they took an interest in our discipline and discovered our sport. Since this year, we have moved back into our gymnasium Les Rougières. We were able to return to our home court, the crowd attended our games, and the stands were full.

What are the goals for this year?

We hope to reach the final phase of the Championnats de France. We are participating in the Coupe de France in January as well as the Coupe d’Europe, in the 2nd level of the Coupe d’Europe, and for the first round, we are traveling to Autriche, to the club near Vienne.

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