Interview
Michaël Jérémiasz, Paralympian and Former Professional Wheelchair Tennis Player
- Michael Jeremias is a former Paralympian and world number one wheelchair tennis player (ranking #1 in singles and doubles) who currently serves as a sports commentator and the official ambassador for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
- Jeremias suffered a spinal cord injury and became paraplegic at age 18 following a snowboarding accident where he jumped too high, broke his legs and spine, and entered a four-day blackout, leaving him initially unaware of his permanent condition.
- His recovery involved a nine-month rehabilitation process in France where he relearned basic life skills (mobility, showering, dressing) by using sports to rebuild his physical independence and mental resilience.
- He discovered wheelchair tennis by accident during rehab in 2000, viewing the wheelchair not as a "cold, heavy enemy" but as a "partner" for autonomy, which led to rapid training five times a week under coach Patrick Mouatoglou (formerly of Serena Williams).
- Four years after his injury, at the 2004 Athens Paralympics, Jeremias won two medals: bronze in singles and silver in doubles, marking the transition of sport from a recreational hobby to his professional identity.
- In 2005, he became the world number one in both singles and doubles; he won a gold medal in doubles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, achieving the highest level of his sporting career.
- Jeremias cites the 2012 London Paralympics as a historical turning point ("before and after" era) driven by Channel 4's decision to broadcast events post-Olympics, which resulted in record viewership and a cultural shift where athletes were recognized for performance rather than disability.
- Following London, the 2016 Rio Games were described as a difficult comparison due to the high bar set, while Jeremias expresses cautious optimism for Paris 2024, noting that France historically struggles to match London's media and political support for disabled people.
- On advocacy, Jeremias highlights a legal gap in France where companies with over 20 employees must hire 6% disabled workers but often fail to comply, arguing that true societal change requires moving beyond penalties to genuine inclusion and accessibility.
- He defines disability as a universal problem affecting 800 million people globally, emphasizing that accessibility (e.g., ramps) should be a matter of "common sense" rather than special accommodation for a specific group.
- During the 2020 pandemic lockdowns, Jeremias paused his training for an Ironman attempt to focus full-time on his family, spending the first three months of his son's life with him—a period he describes as a revelation regarding the value of presence over career achievement.
- The lockdown served as a "reality check" for Jeremias, allowing him to witness the daily adversities faced by disabled individuals who remain "locked up" due to inaccessible housing (e.g., apartments without elevators).
- Jeremias advocates for a mindset shift where individuals periodically step back to appreciate basic privileges (food, shelter, family) to better cope with life's inevitable adversities, urging society not to wait for personal crises to understand systemic issues.
- Looking forward, Jeremias aims to use his platform to fight discrimination and push for a society where diversity is represented naturally, joking that his "future political program" for a potential run for president in France would be universal accessibility and common sense.