Christelle Ribault Explained

Christelle Ribault
Discipline:Track
Role:Rider
Birth Date:23 March 1978
Birth Place:Ermont, France

Christelle Ribault (born 23 March 1978) is a French cyclist.

Biography

Ribault started cycling at the age of 7 at the Sannois club despite suffering from severe epilepsy, then she moved on to track cycling at the Villeneuve-la-Garenne club under the direction of Gérard Van den Abèle. She ranked third in the French National Track Championships, in the 500 m event when she was still a junior, only beaten by Félicia Ballanger and Magali Humbert-Faure. From 1997 to 1999, she spent two years at the Pôle France in Hyères, trained by three-time Olympic champion Daniel Morelon.

In February 2016, Ribault found herself paralyzed in her left leg caused by misdiagnosed sciatica caused by a herniated disc and despite four months in a rehabilitation center, she did not regain the use of this leg.[1] She subsequently competed in para-cycling in the C21 classification. Although her left leg was paralysed, she did not have an amputation and therefore kept two cranks when she raced.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Villeneuve-la-Garenne : valide ou handicapée, elle règne sur la petite reine. 2 October 2017. www.leparisien.fr. Victor Tassel. 21 July 2019.
  2. Web site: Christelle Ribault, une seconde carrière en paracyclisme. 16 August 2019. lequipe.fr. Olivier Haralambon . 12 June 2023.