“My life would be completely different without Romain. As Pierre-Antoine Baele puts on his prosthetic leg, he praises his orthotist. Romain Sgard is part of the bodyguard of the French triathlete, the reigning vice-champion of the world, who is also going to qualify for the Paralympic Games in Paris this summer.
For Pierre-Antoine Baele, disabled from birth due to agenesis of his left leg, a prosthesis became an essential accessory from a very young age. “I started playing sports at the age of 6,” he recalls. I was very well equipped but had to drive an hour to see the ortho in Montpellier. »
“We are looking for the most effective prosthesis”
Since the Lille native returned north to study, his health care provider has become more accessible. “It’s necessary because sports equipment requires a lot of monitoring,” he says. At 32 years old, he does not hesitate to associate his performances “with Romain’s expertise in prosthetics”.
“Before that, I didn’t know the world of triathlon, or the sport at a high level,” notes Romain Sgard, a member of the Orthoway network. I learned a lot from Pierre-Antoine. » Both men have been working together for five years. “We’re essentially looking for the most efficient prosthesis possible, because one or two degrees of offset of the blade changes the axis of the strike. And finding the right setting sometimes takes days of testing. »
Tailor made that cost something. Florian Ferrando, Regional Director of Orthoway, Pierre-Antoine Baele’s sports career partner, but refuses to give a number. “If we asked ourselves the question of the cost of prostheses and the time spent, we would not do it,” he assures simply.
“It cost me money to run sports”
However, this assistance is necessary because the federation does not offer any assistance in purchasing prostheses. “When you are disabled, playing sports requires personal financing that is not covered by social security,” continues Florian Ferrando.
The sighting was confirmed by Arnaud Assoumani, an athlete based near Montpellier. “Running a sport at a high level requires a lot of personal investment,” he explains 20 minutes. When I was world champion in 2006, without media coverage, playing sports cost me money. »
He suffers from agenesis at the wrist level. A handicap that did not prevent him from having a good career, even among the able-bodied, in the long jump and triple jump. If it costs between 5,000 and 20,000 euros for a racing blade, the price can reach 30,000 euros for a myoelectric hand and wrist prosthesis.
Research paper
A partnership with an orthoprosthetist is therefore essential. Arnaud Assoumani has been working with Johanna Harel, co-founder of Jouvet Orthopédie, for a year and a half. “We support four or five athletes in other disciplines free of charge,” notes Johanna Harel. This leads to reflections on our daily practice. For example, the development of a kayak seat tailored for an elite athlete has benefited disabled people who want to take up the sport. »
With Arnaud Assoumani, the search for performance goes much further. Alongside Eric Pantera, a rehabilitation specialist, the athlete participates in biomechanics research to optimize the weight of the prosthesis. New studies were also planned last month to calculate the ideal weight distribution in a prosthetic hand.
“Feedback from an elite athlete is very interesting, especially how the body gets used to and adapts to changes in weight,” admits Johanna Harel. A vacuum prosthesis tested last year to improve running finally showed more disadvantages than advantages. »
Carbon prosthetic legs from racing blades
Romain Sgard in Lille also relies heavily on the sensationalism of his champion. “We envision improvement, but the results are unpredictable. Only the feelings of Pierre-Antoine Baele can guide us,” he insists.
On that day, the northern triathlete must also test the new sleeve and the new racing blade during training at the Center for Resources, Expertise and Sports Performance (Creps) in Wattignies, near Lille. Assessment? Some friction is still painful. Further testing will be necessary.
And one day, perhaps the innovation will power the market for consumer prosthetics. “As in all high-level sports such as Formula 1, once we find a device that can improve performance, we can popularize it and transform it industrially,” emphasizes Florian Ferrando of Orthoway.
* The Olympic triathlon will take place on September 1, the long jump on September 3.