Benjamin Daviet ready for more winter success after Paris 2024 Paralympics

For over 20 years, Benjamin Daviet has known what it is like to compete at the Paralympics. As a Para cross-country skier and a Para biathlete, he has captured 10 medals across three Paralympic Winter Games. 

But competing in a new sport – a summer sport - at a home Games was a special moment for the five-time Paralympic gold medallist. The French athlete swapped his skis for oars at Paris 2024, where he raced in Para rowing’s PR2 mixed double sculls event.

“These Games were incredible,” Daviet said. “It was completely crazy to participate in the Games at home. There was an (incredible) atmosphere with the public, the volunteers, and everyone involved in the Games.

Two months after the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Daviet is now ready for the winter season. With less than 500 days to go until Milano Cortina 2026, he aims to earn more medals in front of his wife and daughter, who was born last year.

Spotlight in Paris

The crowd cheered when Daviet and Perle Bouge took to the waters at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium. They competed in two races (his heats and repechage) before the finals on 1 September.

They finished fifth in the final, clocking 8 minutes, 47.62 seconds in the 2,000-metre race won by Great Britain’s Lauren Rowles and Gregg Stevenson. Still, Daviet says competing in Paris is now one of his favourite moments of his sporting career.

“My favourite moment of the Games is after the final and seeing the public and my family with us. But I don’t think I have a particular moment because these Games were just incredible,” the 35-year-old athlete said.

“Playing at the Games at home is really incredible, especially since I’m doing a winter sport.”

From the snow to the water

Growing up in Bouchet valley in eastern France, Daviet has practiced different sports since childhood, including football and cross-country skiing. His journey in Para sport started in 2011, about five years after he was involved in a moped accident.

He put on his skis to enjoy the nature and landscape. He earned the bronze medal in Para cross-country skiing on his Paralympic debut at Sochi 2014 and bagged five medals at PyeongChang 2018.

“What I enjoy most is rediscovering high-level competition, especially the atmosphere between athletes and staff in Nordic skiing and biathlon disciplines,” he said.

At the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, he carried the French flag at the Opening Ceremony. He was also unstoppable, picking up gold medals in Para cross-country skiing men’s sprint free standing and Para biathlon men’s individual standing events, in addition to the two silver medals.

After competing in the Chinese capital, Daviet started Para rowing in June 2022, hoping it would help him prepare for the winter season.

But the sport ended up being more than that.  

“There are a lot of similarities between the two sports (Para rowing and skiing),” Daviet said. “But the biggest challenge was to qualify for the Games because I didn’t have much time together with Perle to prepare for it.” 

Daviet said he wanted to compete in front of the French public, which was his biggest motivation to learn a new sport.

He earned a Paralympic quota spot for France in the mixed PR2 boat alongside Bouge at the final Paralympic qualification regatta in May. It was his debut for the French rowing team, and Daviet and Bouge won their heat before finishing fourth in the final.

 

 

 

 

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Targeting Paralympics No. 5

Daviet is confident that his experience at Paris 2024 will also help him on the snow. He goes into the winter season, motivated to accomplish more.

In the last two months, he participated in training sessions with athletes on the French national team for skiing and biathlon while also training at home.

“I have a lot of motivation for this winter. Above all, my goal is the World Championships,” Daviet said.

“My next big goals are the World Championships, but especially the Milano Cortina 2026 Games, where I still plan to win a gold medal.”

The World Championships for Para cross-country skiing and Para biathlon are set to take place next year.

After competing in front of a big crowd in Paris, he hopes to find more Paralympic success with the support of fans at Milano Cortina 2026. The next Paralympic Winter Games will take place from 6-15 March 2026, featuring as many as 665 athletes competing across six sports.

Asked what he expects from his fifth Games, he said, “A crowd with a great atmosphere and above all, that I am strong.”

And what does he want to accomplish at Milano Cortina 2026?

“My dream is to win the only races (Para cross-country skiing men’s middle and long-distance races) I am missing from my record at the Games, with my wife and my daughter in the stands. Also, my family and all those who accompany me every day in my sporting career.”