THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES…

Tell us a little about yourself…

My name’s Tifany Huot-Marchand. I was a short track speed skater for 13 years at the highest level, with two appearances at the Winter Olympic Games, in Pyeongchang in 2018 and in Beijing in 2022. After a serious accident that same year left me quadriplegic, I began a long journey of rebuilding. Today, I am a para-cycling athlete, and I continue to live sport – differently.

What has been your relationship with sport over the years, and how has it evolved?

Sport has always been at the center of my life. I had a career as a high-level athlete for many years, with daily life fully lived to the rhythm of training, performance and competitions. It was much more than just a passion. Even after my accident, sport remained my true north. Throughout my rehabilitation, my main motivation was to be able to return to sport and to competing. That’s really what lifted me, what helped me move forward and rebuild myself.

You were a high-level ice skater for many years. What did that discipline give you?

Skating revealed who I am. It’s a sport that shaped my character, that taught me discipline, resilience and a love of hard work. I drew strong values from it: respect, pushing beyond your limits, perseverance. And most of all, it taught me a lot about myself – my strengths and my ability to bounce back.

What similarities or differences do you see between speed skating and cycling, especially at your level of commitment?

It’s a real shift. I’ve moved from an indoor sport to an outdoor one, from a winter sport to a summer sport – and above all, from able-bodied sport to Paralympic sport. There’s so much to relearn and discover. But that’s also what motivates me: I’m excited and eager for this new challenge. What hasn’t changed, though, are the values. The discipline, the commitment, the desire to push myself and improve every day – they’re present in both sports. That shared foundation is what connects these two worlds for me.

You’ve lived through a pivotal moment. When did cycling become a new path for you?

Cycling has always been part of my life, since I was very young riding around the village with my friends. Then during my career in short track, I used cycling as part of my training. Most importantly, when I was told I would never skate in competition again. I immediately turned to this sport, which represents freedom to me. With my partner Tristan, we crossed the Pyrenees, then the Alps, and now we’re preparing for the biggest project of our lives: cycling across the Andes Mountains. Alongside these adventures, I also made the decision to compete in para-cycling. So yes, this sport is really at the centre of my life today.

How did you experience the transition to another discipline and another way of living sport?

It was both painful and liberating. I had to grieve the body I had known so well, and learn to listen to a new one, with its limitations but also its unexpected resources. Cycling gave me new breath, a new project and a different way to be an athlete.

How was your integration into the French para-cycling team?

The welcome was very human, very kind. I arrived with my background as an Olympian, but also with a lot of humility. I had everything to learn. The team extended a hand and gave me back that framework of excellence I had been missing.

What stood out to you in this new sporting environment?

The solidarity. In para-cycling, there’s real mutual support between athletes, a special kind of listening, because we often share lives that have been turned upside down. There’s a strong drive to push yourself, but with added soul.

You’ve just competed in your first World Cup championships in Italy. What were your expectations?

Above all, I wanted to discover, learn, observe. To measure myself against this new world. And of course, to perform – and confirm that this is truly the path I want to take.

In difficult moments, is there a thought, a person, or a routine that helps you keep going?

I often think about the moment they told me I would never walk again. That’s become a source of strength and helps me put things into perspective. I even have a tattoo on my forearm that echoes this: “Never lose hope”. And I’m lucky to be well surrounded: my family, my loved ones – they’re the ones who carry me through the low points.

You’re now an ambassador for Café du Cycliste. What spoke to you about this shared project?

Their vision of cycling: elegant, committed and adventure-oriented. It’s a partnership that reflects who I am – combining sport, nature and human values.

What does this collaboration bring you, on or off the bike?

My collaboration with Café du Cycliste is much more than a simple sponsorship. I feel free, supported and, most of all, understood. We share a true passion for cycling, for adventure, for effort – which creates a deep and very human bond. They support me in my projects with great trust, and that gives me the feeling that anything is possible. Thanks to them, I was able to cross the Pyrenees and the Alps by bike – incredible challenges that left a deep mark on me. And the adventure continues, with ever more ambitious projects.