Arnaud Assoumani, multi-medalist at the Paralympic Games and former EICAR student

Born without a left forearm on September 4, 1985, Arnaud Assoumani quickly developed a passion for athletics, particularly long jump. At the same time, he pursued his second passion, cinema, by joining EICAR, where he earned a BTS in Audiovisual Studies with a focus on Editing and Postproduction.

In honor of the Paris 2024 Games, we invite you to look back at the journey of a remarkable athlete and an inspiring figure!

An exceptional record

Arnaud Assoumani turned his disability into a strength, achieving extraordinary performances, often competing against able-bodied athletes. At his first Paralympic Games in Athens in 2004, he won a bronze medal.

In 2008, he reached the pinnacle of his career, becoming a world champion and winning a gold medal at the Beijing Games the same year.

Always hungry for success, he competed against able-bodied athletes in 2010, earning a bronze medal at the French Indoor Championships. He continued his streak at the 2012 Games, winning two silver medals in long jump and triple jump, and later a bronze medal at the 2016 Games.

Sport and cinema, two intertwined worlds

During the Cannes Film Festival and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, he also carried the Olympic Flame on the red carpet, alongside athletes such as Tony Estanguet, Marie-José Pérec, Iliana Rupert, and Marie Patouillet.
 

A true example of resilience, Arnaud Assoumani shows year after year that passion and perseverance allow one to surpass their goals and dreams, despite obstacles.

At EICAR, the film and audiovisual school where he graduated, many other students have also experienced pivotal moments in their careers, such as producer Igor Gotesman (Fiasco and Family Business on Netflix) and sound engineer Thomas Besson (Un petit truc en plus). This summer, Arnaud is competing in his 6th Paralympic Games with Team EDF for Paris 2024.