French para-climbing champion : high-level sport and professional life is possible!

Jean Cheminade, Systems & Networks Manager Poclain 

• Para-climber at national and international level
• French para-climbing champion 2024
• 4 selections for the French handi-climbing team
• 1 participation in the 2012 Para-climbing World Championship
• 3 participations in the Para-climbing World Cup 2013-2014-2024

You have just returned from the para-climbing world championship. How was it? 

This is the third World Cup I have participated in. After more than 10 years of absence, I had to go through the medical commission, with the very latest version of the regulations. The doctors explained to me that my disability no longer fell under the category of moderate disability (RP2) and I was therefore reclassified as RP3.

Since the vast majority of climbers in the RP3 category are disabled in only one leg, while I am disabled in both legs and part of my abdomen, it was a big challenge that fell on my head. I finished 11th in my category, which is a good result considering my opponents and the type of climbing expected.

What are the different categories in para-climbing?

There are three main categories: the visually impaired, the physically disabled (like me) and the amputees. Then, each major disability family has subcategories.  
For the “blind”, there are categories 1, 2 and 3, knowing that 3 corresponds to the least disabled, and 1 to the most disabled.

For the physically disabled, RP1 are affected in all 4 limbs, RP2 generally in 2 limbs and RP3 in only one limb. Finally, for the amputees, there are two main subcategories, leg amputees and arm amputees, and then again 3 subcategories, depending on where the amputation is located.

Has France ever won a World Cup?

France has a "small" track record (amused smile). In 2012, we already had a "blind" world champion, a physically disabled world vice-champion. In leg amputee, Lucie Jarrige has been world champion 5 times, Solenne Piret, arm amputee, 4 times and also Aloïs Pottier, crowned world champion for the first time last year. Other young climbers who are arriving have a good potential. 

What is your history with climbing?

I started climbing at the age of 6. My parents met while caving. They introduced me to their passion, and to climbing at the same time. It was fun for me to change the verticality. At that age, most of the time, I was in a wheelchair or with canes.

In high school, after a series of major surgeries, I began to be much more independent in my movements. For the very first time, I was able to participate in sports every Wednesday with all the able-bodied students. After a break for my studies, I started again at the age of 30.

I have now been practicing at Sud Oise Escalade for 16 years now.

What do you like most about this sport?

I would first say that climbing has a great therapeutic value! This sport allows me to strengthen a whole bunch of my muscles that don't work spontaneously for me: it's a complete sport. It's also a team sport, because we always climb with a belayer, and then we exchange roles. 

Did you do any other sport before climbing?

Yes. I practiced cycling at the national level in disabled sports. It allowed me to strengthen my legs because up until the age of 9 I was either using canes or a wheelchair… Between the ages of 9 and 14, I moved with assistive devices and half the time with canes. After surgeries that simplified my daily life, by the age of 14 I had only partial devices on my boots and corsets. By the time I was 18, I no longer needed the chair except for trade shows and concerts. And that, I think, is really thanks to cycling.

Can you tell us more about your disability?

I have Spina Bifida. It is a birth defect of the spine. I was born with an abnormally closed spine. To fix it, I had to do some “work”: about 14 surgeries between the ages of 1 and 15, accompanied by a lot of re-education.

Was the World Cup a long-time goal?

Two or three years ago, I started thinking that given my age, this might be my last French Championship. This year, I really decided to put as many chances on my side as possible to win. Since September 2023, I have been very rigorous in my training. I stopped drinking alcohol, stopped snacking on the sweets you can find in the office. I increased my training volume. In addition to climbing and cycling every week, I added muscle strengthening twice a week. This rigorous preparation paid off. 

On the evening of the French championship, the French team coach said to me "Welcome to the French team, see you in Innsbruck (Austria) in June". 

From that moment on, I started touring all the region's clubs to prepare myself and to diversify the openings, wall types...

Do you have any sponsors?

No. Actually, I'm starting to look for some because I have to travel, whether it’s for the French Championship or the World Championship. I also use a lot of slippers because I'm not very precise with my feet and they tend to rub against the wall. I use a pair of slippers every month, whereas someone able-bodied changes his slippers once a year. Furthermore, tomorrow, if I manage to find a physical trainer, it will also cost money.

How do you combine sport and work?

I have found a good balance. Every lunchtime, I walk for an hour. I train in the evening. Each time a competition requires me to travel or to leave the day before, I have always managed to organize myself with my boss and my team to ensure continuity of service at Poclain. So I leave with a clear mind for my competition.  

When you enter a competition like a World Cup, your mind must not be focused on anything but victory, otherwise you could fail against competitors who are focused on the goal. The World Cup in June took place on a Monday and Tuesday, the Sunday before, a very heavy computer maintenance was scheduled. All the preparation work that we did upstream (editor's note: with the Poclain team) ensured that everyone benefited, including Poclain.

Were you able to progress at Poclain?

The most evolving element of my position is the management aspect. When I came to Poclain, I had a little management experience but only with work-study students or young graduates. I manage people who already had experience at Poclain, and therefore who did not have the same expectations as people entering the job market. It is an continuous and evolving task to meet the expectations of my management, my team, and my colleagues.

Does your practice affects the way you work?

The aspect of “solving problems” and “finding solutions” is at the heart of my job because we are in a support function. The psychological approach is similar. There is also a planning aspect. When we prepare for a championship, months in advance, a preparation plan is necessary, like within my team on the different projects. Things don't always go smoothly. There are difficulties that have to be overcome. Then you have to know how to bounce back and move on to the next difficulty.

Can you tell us a little about your team? 

In my team, there are two experienced engineers and a third member, a little more junior on Systems & Networks, who comes from the Front Office. Two of us have a little more networking background than the others. There are two of us who also have a fairly significant Microsoft background. A member of the team is quite strong in networking and Linux. Our challenge is to support each IT project, maintaining the level of security or even improving it. With the Olympics alone, we are having more and more computer attacks. This year, we spend 50% of our time doing IT security.

In the office, do people talk a lot about sport?

There are three of us in my team alone who climb. Two of us cycle a lot. And Jordan has just suggested that we take part in a trail in November. Jérémy has practiced climbing. Luis runs a lot. So yes, there's a lot of talk about sports in general and about sports practiced! 

What is your next sporting goal?

In the very short term, the next Handi-Climbing World Cup will take place in Arco in Italy in September, where I intend to get the other part of the ranking. With the French team, after this last event of the season, we will discuss to find out if I stop or if I continue. There is more to life than climbing, work and personal life are two major components. 

Many thanks to Jean for answering our questions.

It's now official! Its discipline, para-climbing, will be part of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.