ASSOUMANI Arnaud

Classification
T47 (IPC, 18 Mar 2021)

Type of Impairment
Limb deficiency (runinlive.com, 26 Feb 2010)

Origin of Impairment
Congenital (runinlive.com, 26 Feb 2010)

Impairment Details
He was born without a left forearm. (runinlive.com, 26 Feb 2010)

General
TOKYO MILESTONE
If he competes at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, he will become the second French Para athletics competitor, after Pierre Fairbank, to compete at five editions of the Paralympic Games. In 2020 he wrote an open letter to French and international media, asking for better coverage of Paralympic sport in the media. "We are asking for more recognition, for the Paralympics to be shown live on television. We aren't asking for equality [with the Olympic Games] as that is unrealistic, but to simply be better recognised for our efforts, so that people in France can see on the television our Games and understand better their importance. This is not just a message for France, but for all the world's media." (sport24.lefigaro.fr, 20 Mar 2020; SportsDeskOnline, 01 Feb 2021)

MUSIC MAN
He enjoys making and performing music under the name Jariath, and studied music production at the Dubspot Music Academy in New York City, NY, United States of America. While living in Brazil for four months between 2017 and 2018, he studied at Salgueiro Samba School in Rio de Janeiro, and took part in the 2018 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. "I've been doing Brazilian music since 2007 - batucada, samba. My dream was to parade at the carnival in Rio, and I was able to realise this dream in 2018. I stayed for four months in Rio, I learned Portuguese, I trained with Salgueiro, then I played and paraded with the school in the Sambodrome in front of 90,000 spectators. It was amazing. I also create music on my own. I write, compose, produce and sing. I released an EP in 2017 under the name Jariath. I'm currently working on an album for 2021." (le10sport.com, 04 Sep 2019; LinkedIn profile, 01 Jun 2017; leparisien.fr, 17 May 2017; sportbuzzbusiness.fr, 22 Jul 2020)

RETIREMENT THOUGHTS
He has begun to think about life after sport, saying he wants to pursue a career as an entrepreneur, while also staying involved in Para sport. "I see myself continuing in entrepreneurship, supporting companies. Well-being in business, diversity, the environment, to show that we can be more efficient by bringing in more ethics. Bringing philanthropy and altruistic ambition to companies and society is what I already do in the form of speeches, seminars and workshops. I want to continue to invest in projects that make sense to me. I also have a podcast and YouTube channel project, inviting inspiring people who innovate and seek to provide solutions in their respective fields to comment on the complex problems of our time. I will also always keep a foot in the world of sport. I want to share my experience." (sportbuzzbusiness.fr, 22 Jul 2020)

His bronze medal in the T47 long jump at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro made him the first French Para athlete to have won four medals in long jump at the Paralympic Games. His silver medal in the T46 Triple Jump at the 2012 Games in London was also France's first Paralympic medal in triple jump. (SportsDeskOnline, 01 Mar 2021)

He was the first French Para athlete to win a medal at the French national able-bodied athletics championships. He won a bronze medal in long jump at the 2010 French indoor championships. (a-speakers.fr, 28 Jan 2019; insep.fr, 15 Apr 2016)