France’s Para badminton player Faustine Noel sets sights on home Paralympic Games

When Faustine Noel started playing badminton, she did not imagine that she would one day represent France at the Paralympics. She was 10 years old when she picked up the racquet for the first time and immediately fell in love with the sport.

Fast forward 17 years, Noel was one of the 90 athletes who competed in Para badminton at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, where the sport was included in the programme for the first time. Competing alongside Lucas Mazur, Noel took the silver medal in the mixed doubles SL3-SU5 tournament. 

“The experience of Tokyo was huge because there were a lot of feelings. The feelings were bigger and more intense,” Noel said. “There were a lot of ups and downs, but winning a silver medal was really exciting. I also had a good result in the women’s doubles. We lost in the bronze medal match, but it was a good competition.” 

With the Paris 2024 Paralympics approaching, Noel is looking forward to sharing special moments at the Games with her family and friends. Having finished with silver at Tokyo 2020, it would be a magical experience to top the podium this time in front of a huge home crowd.

Para badminton is one of the 22 sports staged in Paris 2024, taking place between 28 August and 8 September.

“I really enjoy that France is hosting the Paralympic Games because all my family and friends will come or can come. We know that it can be more pressure, but I will enjoy that,” she said.

“I think it’s a chance to represent our nation in your nation. Spectators will help us compete.”

Change starts with sports

Ten years after taking up the sport and playing with her parents, Noel was introduced to Para badminton. She travelled the world for competitions and enjoyed playing the sport at a “high level.” 

“When I started Para badminton, we didn’t know that it would be in Tokyo (at the Paralympics), so I just enjoyed going to other countries to play badminton and after it was announced that we will go to the Paralympics, I was proud,” Noel said. “I never imagined that.”

“Sport changed my life because I learned to be more confident about myself. I learned how to do a project from A to Z,” Noel said. “When you are an athlete, you don’t just have training every day. It’s also about how to manage your life for a project, learn many skills from different parts of the project. So, I’ve grown up because of that.” 

At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, Mazur and Noel beat the Japanese pair of Akiko Sugino and Daisuke Fujihara in straight sets in the semifinals before losing to Leani Ratri Oktila and Susanto Hary of Indonesia in the gold medal match.

While winning a medal was a moment to celebrate, Noel said people in France were already excited about Paris 2024 and were asking her about her aspirations of playing at home.

“After Tokyo, there were a lot of media who came to wonder how it happened and if I will continue for Paris. It was really strange because when I arrived in France, it was like I never celebrated the silver medal.”

“Everybody talks about Paris (2024). A lot of friends and also family of course say that they will come to Paris to see me compete. I just need to qualify first.” 

Bienvenue a Paris 

The Paris 2024 Paralympics will feature 16 medal events in Para badminton. Players can qualify for the Games by placing highly in singles and doubles in the Race to Paris ranking list, which will be released on 2 April 2024. 

Noel hopes that the Paris 2024 Paralympics will create a lasting impact in France.

“I hope hosting the Paralympic Games can help (people) see the impact of sports for people with disabilities and just show that handicaps are normal and familiarise people with a lot of variety of disabilities and appreciate the sport more.”