© ASO / Victor Barcus
Paris Marathon: The hopeful journey of Louise and Léontine
On Sunday, April 13, Louise and Léontine crossed the finish line of the Paris Marathon. One is able-bodied, the other uses a wheelchair, but when you stand before them, the difference disappears in the face of an unyielding life force. United by sports, they pursued two clear objectives: to convey a message of hope and to lift the taboo on disability.
There is this inexplicable bond that you feel between Louise and Léontine. On the eve of the Paris Marathon, at the Run Experience expo, the teammates are confident: “We’re ready, we’ve got our bibs,” Léontine says. As ambassadors of the Paris Marathon 2025, the two friends from Belfort have had personal journeys filled with challenges. Léontine is a former high-level basketball player who couldn’t fulfill her dream of playing for the French national team. Louise was born with a disability. She has spina bifida, a spinal cord malformation often associated with paralysis of the limbs.
After completing the Belfort half-marathon in September 2024, this able-bodied and disabled duo had one goal: to double down. Soon, the idea of running a marathon took shape: “Initially, I wanted to do this for my 25th birthday; Paris came as an obvious choice, it’s the city of endless possibilities. My dad is accompanying us on this adventure, he’s the missing piece,” Léontine explains. For four and a half months, they trained five times a week, guided by a coach: “During our preparation, we went through all possible states. The first step was doubt, pondering whether I could do it, whether I would manage to give the necessary push when Louise needed it. Then came December, a standstill. Louise’s body was no longer responding, we had to reassess everything.” Tirelessly, Léontine continued training alone without giving up: “Mentally, I had to hang on, but I knew Louise would come back stronger than ever.”
Louise (left) and Léontine (right) at the Lion half-marathon
Training at sunset
Bibs retrieved
| “I want to cross the finish line standing”
During the race, each has her role. Léontine gives the initial push, and Louise propels herself on the rolling parts. The teammates decided to rely solely on their instincts and base it on body language: “When I feel Louise isn’t doing well, I go behind her. And when she senses I’m faltering, she lets me know. Our bond is based on total trust,” Léontine explains. Holding her friend’s hand, Louise adds: “I want to cross the finish line standing, and I’m sure I will. What kept me going during these four and a half months of preparation was visualizing the moment when Léontine will hold my hand to lift me with her strength.”
“This sums up everything we are and everything that emanates from us. I will give Louise the first push in the fields, and she will make the last move standing. We are together, in fact, no one is disabled in our duo. ” Léontine emphasizes.
“This sums up everything we are and everything that emanates from us. I will give Louise the first push in the fields, and she will make the last move standing. We are together, in fact, no one is disabled in our duo.”
Léontine Peter
| A shared drive: breaking the boundaries of disability
Behind this challenge, there is a clear message: to change mindsets. Beyond time and performance, it’s a fight for the inclusion of disability in society that these two athletes are leading: “We want to break the taboo of disability. We’re just two athletes running differently. Everything is still very inaccessible; we just need to combine the two worlds to find solutions. Besides, we didn’t want to start in the para-athletic area tomorrow; we wanted to start with everyone.” Louise continues: “We just want someone who sees us to think: I can do it too.”
And if their duo inspires, it’s undoubtedly because it is sincere. These two young women move forward together, in their own way, showing that shared effort has immense power. Tomorrow morning, they will be alongside the 56,950 runners of the Paris Marathon, and they are ready.
| A marathon completed in 5:02:27
Louise and Léontine completed their first marathon in 5:02:27. As planned, Louise finished it standing, alongside Léontine and her dad: “Everything aligned during the race, everything we worked for during the past four months. During these 42.195 km, what resonated with me was never to stop believing. Finishing standing is the most beautiful message I could convey.” Léontine adds emotionally, “Everything was smooth: our conversations, our anticipation, the energy from the crowd, and that last moment standing. The message got through; it was true sport, the kind that brings people together.”
The duo sets no limits and continues their project with a major challenge: completing a triathlon in September 2025. Louise concludes, “Just like the marathon, we’re doing it together. There’s no limit to what we can accomplish.”
