Paralympics 2022: Cécile Hernandez wins gold in snowboard cross, the second title for France

The light at the end of the tunnel for Cécile Hernandez. Still stuck in France and far from Beijing two weeks ago, finally narrowly selected after a legal imbroglio linked to the abolition of her category, the French snowboarder can savor. Monday, March 7, the Catalan won her first Paralympic title on the cross (LL2 category) by upholding her status as world number one gleaned last year. This is the second gold medal for the tricolor clan after that of Arthur Bauchet on the descent.

PARALYMPIC CHAMPIONEEEEEE

The first medal for para snowboarding at #Beijing2022 is in gold and it is signed CECILE HERNANDEZ!#AllezLesBleus pic.twitter.com/r92DP8VCEL

— Team France (@EquipeFRA) March 7, 2022

A boss, from A to Z. This Monday in Genting, she was almost alone in the world. Holder of the first qualifying time on Sunday, after beating her own time on her second run, the Angles snowboarder left only crumbs on Monday during the finals. First in her quarter-final, first in her semi-final, she pulled away to make a big splash in the final, winning gold ahead of Canadian Lisa Dejong and American Brenna Huckaby.

Despite a knee alert the day before, the 47-year-old Frenchwoman followed her race plan to the letter: make a good “start” (departure) in order to take the lead and not let go of the lead. Comfortable in the hoops and perfect in her trajectories, she recited her scales. Lover of charms, the one who defines herself as “superstitious” did not leave an ounce of room to chance.

After silver in Sochi in 2014 and bronze in Pyeongchang in 2018 in the discipline, the 47-year-old athlete undoubtedly has the greatest success of his career. One who, in light of the torment she has encountered on but especially off the track in recent months, will remain etched forever. Hands on her head on arrival, as if struck by this title which she would not have dared to dream of a few days ago, Cécile Hernandez, with tears in her eyes, slowly became aware of the magnitude of the feat.

This Monday, she is at the top of French para snowboarding. And she hasn’t planned to go back down there before Saturday March 12, at the end of the banked slalom (to follow on France.tv and France 3).