Laurent Giammartini: “the padel unites the able-bodied and the armchairs”

The inspiring trajectory of Laurent Giammartini, from wheelchair tennis to padel-wheelchair: we spoke with the three-time Paralympic medalist in wheelchair tennis about his conversion to the padel when International Tournament in Casa Padel.

From accident to resilience

“Before my motorcycle accident in 1982, I was already playing tennis,” remembers Laurent. But the accident left him paraplegic and he had to spend several days in a coma. “I was hit in the spine, in my lower limbs. My legs don’t move.”

A reinvented passion: Wheelchair tennis

“Nine months after my accident, I left the hospital and started thinking about how to readapt to everyday life. Wheelchair tennis allowed me to regain my self-confidence,” confides Laurent. Not only does he regain confidence, but he also shines in this new sport. “I won a gold medal in singles in Seoul in 1988. I got a medal in my first appearance.”

Laurent will also succeed in winning a silver medal in singles and a bronze in doubles in Barcelona in 1992.

The role of Pierre Fusade

“Pierre Fusade, a former wheelchair tennis player, really helped develop the discipline in France,” says Laurent. Fusade was indeed a pillar in the development of this sport, launching a first circuit and starting to organize competitions.

Transition to padel-armchair

Laurent diversifies by adding the padel-armchair to its repertoire. “I was French number one in padel until this tournament in Casa Padel,” he said. According to him, the padel is a sport that allows easier inclusion of disabled players. "At padel, the dynamics of the game are very different, which makes it interesting.”

Future of padel-armchair

“My long-term goal is to see the padel- wheelchair integrated into the Paralympic Games,” says Laurent. For him, the future is promising. “The boom is global and we are seeing a lot of new players in padel-chair landing in this sport.”

The cultural difference between France and Spain

“In France, most players of padel armchair come from tennis, but this is not the case in Spain, where the sport is more developed,” notes Laurent. According to him, France still has a way to go to catch up with Spain, but “the good news is that we are getting organized and the level is increasing. See you in two or three years and we’ll talk again.”

A unifying sport

“It shows that sport can really unite people, whatever their disability,” concludes Laurent, highlighting the beauty of coexistence in sport between disabled and non-disabled people.

See you for the first official “valid and wheelchair” tournament next November at Casa Padel.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovers the padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since padel is part of his life. You often see him touring France going to cover the major events of padel French.