Yohann Diniz wants to participate in Paris-Alsace
Yohann Diniz announced on his Facebook page on Tuesday his desire to participate within two years in Paris-Alsace (formerly Paris-Strasbourg or Paris-Colmar), a walking event of several hundred kilometers – more than 400. The champion of the 2017 world and three-time European and 50 km walk champion announced his retirement after the Tokyo Games. At 45, he chose to embark on a new adventure.
“After a year and a half where many adventures have kept me away from my sport, it is time for me to reconnect with what has always animated me, the love of walking, he writes on the social network. Indeed, the big names that made me love and understand this sport are: Roger Quemener, Jean Claude Gouverneaux, my first coach Michel Lemercier, Urba, Guy Legrand, Alexei Rodionov and the Dahm family… These walkers passed in front of my house during the mythical Paris-Alsace. It is through this event and these heroes that I was able to discover part of the walk with these Deep Distance events. It’s time for me to try to realize my childhood dream and try to imitate my illustrious representatives. »
“I will start to gradually align myself with events during this year and work hard to understand how these heroes will succeed to walk so long”
He adds : “I will try with the greatest humility to carry out the adventure of the Grand Fond with the aim of participating in Paris-Alsace within the next two years. For this project to succeed I will form a team that will support me and help me cross the finish line in Colmar. I will start to gradually align myself with trials during this year and work hard on how to understand these heroes for walking so long. »