Photograph by Antoine Boureau
The fun of sports activities lies not within the medals received however within the friendships cast and the enjoyment of taking part, in accordance with Particular Olympics France cross-country skier Fanélie Croizat.
The 44-year-old from Saint-Chamond within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes area of France is about to embark on her third World Winter Video games when she takes on the snow in Italia, having beforehand competed at PyeongChang 2013 and Austria 2017. She can be amongst 1,500 athletes from over 100 nations competing on the World Winter Video games Turin 2025—the world’s largest sports activities and humanitarian occasion.
Fanélie’s story is a part of the ‘Rejoice the Distinctive’ marketing campaign, supported by Toyota Motor Europe and UPS, a visible and narrative challenge designed to highlight eight distinctive Particular Olympics athletes representing their nations on the World Winter Video games Turin 2025.
As she appears forward to Turin 2025, Fanélie stays grounded in her objective: to benefit from the expertise and share her love for snowboarding with others.
A Magical Second Every Time
“I take part in all of the Particular Olympics occasions as a result of every time is all the time a magical second for me,” she mirrored. For her, the enjoyment is within the journey, not the result. The pleasure she feels from competing and sharing the expertise with fellow athletes far outweighs the need for a podium end.
“My objective is to have enjoyable, meet new folks, and make others pleased with me by giving my perfect,” she mentioned.
As a Particular Olympics France Athlete Chief, Fanélie is devoted to serving to different athletes discover their very own path to success. She believes management is rooted in teamwork, even in a person sport like hers, and that each athlete has one thing beneficial to contribute.
“Despite the fact that I’m an Athlete Chief, I’m not alone on the workforce,” she mentioned, stressing the significance of supporting each other and ensuring nobody feels left behind.
Photograph by Antoine Boureau
Reworked by Sports activities
Particular Olympics has formed not simply Fanélie’s athletic profession, however her complete life. The chance to journey the world, compete in worldwide occasions, and most significantly, achieve confidence, has modified her in methods she by no means imagined.
“Sports activities have really reworked me; they’ve given me confidence and helped me divulge heart’s contents to others,” she mentioned. Fanélie has discovered her voice and a way of belonging that extends past the competitors. It’s about extra than simply successful medals—it’s about creating a worldwide neighborhood of athletes who help each other and develop collectively.
Fanélie emphasizes that what really drives her is the sense of camaraderie at Particular Olympics occasions. “Once I play sports activities, I’ve enjoyable, and I really feel comfortable,” she defined. It’s this love for the expertise, somewhat than a singular deal with successful, that fuels her ardour.
“The environment of those occasions and the human experiences we share encourage me to tackle new challenges.”
Carrying the Olympic Torch at Paris 2024
In preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games, Fanélie was honoured with the chance to hold the Olympic Torch in Lyon, France, close to her hometown of Saint-Chamond. On 26 July, surrounded by her household, associates, and fellow members of Particular Olympics France, Fanélie proudly walked by the town’s crowded streets.
Fanélie shared, “I used to be very pleased with this second as a result of I might be myself whereas everybody round me supported me as I carried the torch. All my household and associates had been there to help and cheer for me as nicely.”
Photograph by Antoine Boureau
Transitioning from Summer time to Winter Sports activities
Having competed in swimming and basketball, Fanélie didn’t hesitate when introduced with the prospect to tackle the problem of competing in cross-country snowboarding. Coming from the French city of Saint-Chamond, famend for its ski resorts, winter sports activities have all the time been part of her life. “I’ve all the time beloved winter sports activities,” she mentioned.
The transition from summer time to winter sports activities will not be with out its challenges. Winter sports activities require completely different methods, completely different bodily preparation, and, typically, a distinct mindset. However Fanélie admitted she enjoys “practising a number of sports activities as a result of I discover one thing completely different to like in each. For cross-country snowboarding, I particularly love being outside within the mountains.”
“A very powerful factor for me is assembly folks from different nations and giving my all,” she mentioned.
The cross-country competitors will happen between 10 and 15 March on the Olympic Cross-Nation Middle in Pragelato, Italy.
The Particular Olympics World Winter Video games Turin 2025 can be held in Italy from 8 – 15 March, with over 1,500 athletes from greater than 100 nations competing throughout eight sports activities: alpine snowboarding, cross-country snowboarding, DanceSport, determine skating, floorball, brief observe pace skating, snowboarding, snowshoeing.
