Charles Noakes does not yet have the notoriety of a rock star, but the Paralympic badminton champion no longer goes unnoticed. Saturday November 2, at the Chaban-Delmas hall in Valence (Drôme), the 27-year-old athlete was the star guest of the French para badminton championships. “How’s the media tour going?” Are you fed up?a badist colleague calls out to him. The kick-off of an FC Nantes match [le 30 septembre contre l’ASSE]a room in your name [au Creps des Pays de la Loire]it’s beautiful… “
The licensee of the Saint-Herblain club (Loire-Atlantique) takes the time for a photo and to exchange a few words, with a teenager who is also short or a deaf woman, happy to talk to him. Propelled from the shadows to the light by the magic of a global event at home, the Paralympic heroes of Paris 2024 must now manage “after” and come to terms with their new status.
“A match changed my life”summarizes Charles Noakes at Mondean allusion to his victory with panache in the final on September 2 against the Briton Krysten Coombs. Its emerging notoriety is not limited to “drivers”. People recognize him in the street, “five to six times a day in Nantes, Paris and almost everywhere”.
Media tour, “a different type of sport”
“We see the enthusiasm around Charles’ personality, he is someone who comes across well and who has a message to conveycomments Yohan Penel, president of the French Badminton Federation. You would almost need a full-time job to manage your media schedule. » He appeared twice on France 2’s “20 Heures”, had the honors of the trendy show “Clique” on Canal+ and media like combine et Brut… “Overnight, all the press wants to interview yourelate Noakes. I didn’t expect that, I didn’t think I would be so appreciated. »
Until arousing “very tired” and sometimes “feel a weight”. “You have to keep good posture, avoid slips of the tongue, it’s not easy. It’s a different type of sport.”he slips. The badista is thinking of hiring an agent to professionalize himself but he is not complaining: “Overall, I am very happy to have this recognition. »
She will also remain as one of the faces of the Paralympic Games: Aurélie Aubert entered the hearts of the French by becoming the first French medalist in boccia, a hitherto confidential discipline close to pétanque and curling. A triumphant welcome at Club France, champagne on the Champs-Elysées at a premium partner of Paris 2024…, she is chosen to extinguish the flame during the closing ceremony at the Stade de France, and moves into a new dimension.
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