Le 9ème Couloir

It is in a desire for inclusiveness and equality that Lacoste presented during the world final of the 50m freestyle on August 1, 2021 the 9TH lane: A unique race bringing together for the first time able bodied and Paralympic athletes thanks to an
exceptional system.
For the first time in history, this 5Om freestyle final had nine participants. Eight ablebodied swimmers and Laurent Chardard, Paralympic swimmer, member of the France team.
On August 1 at 3:30 a.m in Paris, in a swimming pool dedicated to the operation, Laurent Chardard took part in an unprecedented and symbolic competition by presenting himself at water line number nine to compete against the best swimmers
of the planet.
Who set off for Tokyo? The races of the eight competitors in the final where then transcribed in real time by light beams.
It is thanks to this unique device that able-bodied and Paralympic swimmers for the first time found themselves competing together; both sporty and technological performance.
To follow this world premiere, a live broadcast on August 1, 2021 at 3:30 am (Paris Time) on Lacoste’s Facebook account. An exceptionally commented broadcast by sports journalist France Pierron and Tugdual Guéguin, Laurent Chardars’s trainer.