Emmanuelle Assmann has been awarded the Légion d'Honneur, France's highest decoration ©F Pervillé

Emmanuelle Assmann, President of the National Paralympic Committee of France, has been awarded the Légion d'Honneur, the nation’s highest decoration.

She received the honour in Paris from three-time Olympic canoe slalom champion Tony Estanguet, who is also an International Olympic Committee member, in the company of International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Sir Philip Craven.

Also in the French capital to see Assmann collect the award were Secretary of State for Sports Thierry Braillard, former Sports Ministers Valérie Fourneyron and Jean-François Lamour, French National Olympic and Sports Committee President Denis Masseglia and French Federation of Disabled Sports President Gérard Masson.

"It is not the impairment that changed my life,” said Assmann.

“It's the sport.”

Emmanuelle Assmann follows in the footsteps of Sir Philip Craven, who was awarded the Légion d'Honneur last year
Emmanuelle Assmann follows in the footsteps of Sir Philip Craven, who was awarded the Légion d'Honneur last year ©F Pervillé

She was elected President of the French Paralympic Committee in May 2013, succeeding Masson, and is secretary general of the French Federation of Disabled Sports.

As well as her sports administration career, Assmann was also a successful athlete, winning a wheelchair fencing team epee bronze medal at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games.

She follows in the footsteps of Sir Philip as he was awarded the Légion d'Honneur last March in recognition of his commitment to the IPC and Parasport.


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