Emmanuelle Mörch, Paralympic tenniswoman: "It was impossible for me to live without playing sports"

In 2008, Emmanuelle Mörch, then a high school student, was the victim of a serious snowboarding accident which left her quadriplegic.

Three years later, this gifted returned to the Ecole Centrale de Paris and became a high-level wheelchair tennis player.

In 2016, she participated in the Paralympic Games in Rio, became a professional in 2019 thanks to the sponsorship of the L'Oréal Group and is now preparing for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

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Where does this mental strength come from?

At home, we never complained.

It had to go.

So I did not collapse.

I had my accident in April, I passed my baccalaureate in September in my hospital room.

I managed to mourn what I could no longer do to focus on what was still possible to do, without looking back.

We always believe that it only happens to others

Emmanuelle Morch

Have you ever been angry to be prevented from walking so young?

I was mostly very angry with myself.

I jumped a bump that I knew was too high, but I jumped it anyway and I still don't know why… At the time, everything was obvious to me.

We always believe that it only happens to others.

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How do you explain your exceptional career?

There was one thing I was sure of after my accident: it was impossible for me to live without playing sports.

I discovered chair tennis by chance.

I hit my first balls in 2011. The taste for competition came little by little.

The L'Oréal Group has supported me in an exceptional way, not only by giving me money, but by supporting me humanly and following my career.

Today, I am preparing for the Paris Olympics with the help of a new team and my partner, with whom I live in Marseille.

Life is beautiful.