Gilles de la Bourdonnaye

Gilles de la Bourdonnaye (born 27 January 1973)[1] is a French para table tennis player who competes in international level events. He is a triple Paralympic champion, triple World champion and thirteen time European champion.[2] His right arm was amputated when he was three years old after an elevator accident.[3]

Gilles de la Bourdonnaye
de la Bourdonnaye at 2005 European Championships
Personal information
NationalityFrench
Born (1973-01-27) 27 January 1973 (age 51)
Dakar, Senegal
SpouseMicha Zakova-de la Bourdonnaye
Sport
Country France
SportPara table tennis
DisabilityAmputation of right arm
Disability classC10
Coached byGrégory Rosec
Medal record
Para table tennis
Representing  France
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta Men's singles C10
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta Men's teams C9-10
Gold medal – first place 2000 Sydney Men's teams C10
Silver medal – second place 1992 Barcelona Men's singles C10
Silver medal – second place 1992 Barcelona Men's teams C10
Silver medal – second place 2004 Athens Men's teams C10
Bronze medal – third place 1992 Barcelona Men's open singles
Bronze medal – third place 1996 Atlanta Men's open singles
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Beijing Men's teams C9-10
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1990 Assen Men's teams C10
Gold medal – first place 1998 Paris Men's open singles
Gold medal – first place 2002 Taipei Men's singles C10
Silver medal – second place 1998 Paris Men's singles C10
Bronze medal – third place 1990 Assen Men's singles C10
Bronze medal – third place 1998 Paris Men's teams C10
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Taipei Men's teams C10
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Montreux Men's teams C10
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1991 Salou Men's open singles
Gold medal – first place 1995 Hillerod Men's open singles
Gold medal – first place 1995 Hillerod Men's singles C10
Gold medal – first place 1995 Hillerod Men's teams C10
Gold medal – first place 1997 Stockholm Men's open singles
Gold medal – first place 1997 Stockholm Men's singles C10
Gold medal – first place 1999 Piestany Men's singles C10
Gold medal – first place 1999 Piestany Men's teams C10
Gold medal – first place 2001 Frankfurt Men's teams C10
Gold medal – first place 2003 Zagreb Men's open singles
Gold medal – first place 2005 Jesolo Men's open singles
Gold medal – first place 2005 Jesolo Men's singles C10
Gold medal – first place 2005 Jesolo Men's teams C10
Silver medal – second place 1991 Salou Men's teams C10
Silver medal – second place 1997 Stockholm Men's teams C10
Silver medal – second place 2001 Frankfurt Men's singles C10
Silver medal – second place 2003 Zagreb Men's singles C10
Silver medal – second place 2003 Zagreb Men's teams C10
Silver medal – second place 2007 Kranjska Gora Men's singles C9-10
Silver medal – second place 2019 Helsingborg Men's teams C10
Bronze medal – third place 1999 Piestany Men's doubles C6-10
Bronze medal – third place 1999 Piestany Men's open singles
Bronze medal – third place 2001 Frankfurt Men's open singles

Sporting career edit

He started competing internationally at the 1990 World Para Table Tennis Championships and retired in the 2008 Summer Paralympics. de la Bourdonnaye came out of retirement eleven years later, aged 46, when he participated at the 2019 European Championships in Helsingborg where he won his first medal since 2008 when he won a silver medal in the teams events.[4]

He has won team event titles with numerous other competitors including Philippe Roine, Jeremy Rousseau and Matéo Bohéas.[5]

Return to sport edit

de la Bourdonnaye made his decision to come out of retirement and make a bid to compete in his sixth Paralympic Games by hoping to qualify for the 2020 Summer Paralympics.[6]

References edit

  1. ^ "Athens 2004 Paralympic Games - Table Tennis - Official Results Book". ipc-services.org. International Paralympic Committee. 19 September 2004.
  2. ^ "Gilles de la Bourdonnaye - IPTTF Profile". International Para Table Tennis Federation. 19 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Avec un seul bras, Gilles de la Bourdonnaye est un des 100 meilleurs pongistes francais". Le Monde (in French). 27 October 2000.
  4. ^ "Helsingborg 2019: Gilles de la Bourdonnaye ready for table tennis return". International Paralympic Committee. 16 September 2019.
  5. ^ "Tennis de table: Gilles de la Bourdonnaye, retour reussi". le10sport.com (in French). 14 May 2019.
  6. ^ "Retour dore pour Gilles de la Bourdonnaye". HandiSport (in French). 16 May 2019.

External links edit