“Sport is a development factor”

After coming 9th at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games (K4 500m), kayaker Vanina Paoletti is about to meet up with the Olympic Elite again for the 2024 Games in Paris. Interview with a clever sportswoman, a policewoman in everyday life, and committed to the life of her city.

Onward to the Olympic and Paralympic games

In order to become a high-level sportswoman, I followed a classic kayaker path: Caen Canoe-Kayak Training Centre, then Cesson-Sévigné France Training Centre, and finally the Olympic Training Centre in Vaires-sur-Marne. Two years ago, I joined the ranks of the National Police. On full sports leave, I have been part of the French Kayak Team for almost 10 years now. In 2020 we reached 9th place in K4 at the Tokyo Olympics and, last August, we finished 5th at the World Championships in K2 with my teammate Manon Hostens. I am in full preparation for the Paris Olympics, and I will have the honour of carrying the Olympic Flame in Angers, where I currently live.

Beyond sport

I grew up with sport as a backdrop. My father was a coach and my mother a sport doctor. Sport taught me a lot, about myself and about others. But growing up in this universe we also see and experience certain situations. This was when I became interested in questions about integration through sport and also in the fight against sexual and sexist violence in this setting. When I open the subject in locker-rooms, we sometimes talk about inappropriate behaviour and also about the victim status, which is difficult to bear when you are an athlete. At my own scale, I try to raise awareness about these subjects, speaking in schools and also among young kayakers.

Acting against violences

I am an athlete and a policewoman. Therefore, I see these subjects in a particular way. To act against violence, we need to already know what we are talking about. Violence can take many forms (physical, verbal, psychological…). I also try to stress the importance of talking about it and getting support. In my club we brought in the “Colosse aux pieds d’argile” association. We raise these subjects very early on, so that young members are aware of forms of reprehensible behaviour. In my opinion, sport should not be a psychological constraint, but a means to fulfilment.

At a personal level, I make donations to the Fondation des Femmes. This is an association that supports gender equality and the fight against violence, and promotes women’s autonomy. It contributes to making a concrete impact and advancing causes which are essential for a fairer future.

This article was published in the magazine Sport and Citizenship n°57 : protecting sport integrity