Pauline Déroulède

WHEELCHAIR TENNIS

As part of the partnership between LVMH and Paris 2024, LVMH is proud to support Pauline Déroulède, triple champion of France in wheelchair tennis.

Pauline Déroulède’s life changed radically in October 2018 when she was hit by a car whose driver had lost control and had to have her left leg amputated. A longtime tennis player, she quickly rebounded after the tragedy and set her sights on competing in the Paralympic Games Paris 2024. Today, her list of achievements includes winning the French championship three years running, in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and ranking 13th in the world.

Pauline Déroulède will represent Dior as Ambassador for the Paralympic Games Paris 2024. With her ambition and engagement, two values shared by the Maison, Pauline Déroulède is out to make her dream of Paralympic gold come true. LVMH and Dior are delighted to welcome Pauline Déroulède as Ambassador and Artisan of All Victories. This partnership builds on the active support that LVMH and its Maisons have for many years provided for high-level sports and the most prestigious international competitions. From the creation of numerous trophies to trunks designed specially to hold them, LVMH Maisons have long been partners to the world of sports, spanning a wide variety of disciplines, including tennis, rugby, basketball, football and automobile racing.

History

WHEELCHAIR TENNIS

Born in the 1980s, wheelchair tennis has become an extremely popular discipline, integrated into the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments and the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. The ITF wheelchair circuit currently includes over 150 tournaments, with international rankings similar to those of able-bodied players.

The maneuverability of the wheelchair is crucial for wheelchair tennis players, who must maneuver it skillfully to position themselves and cover the court effectively in order to return the ball. For the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, the rules for wheelchair tennis are strictly the same as those for traditional tennis, with one exception linked to the use of the chair: a player is allowed to let the ball bounce twice before hitting it. Athletes are divided into two distinct categories: Open, for players with lower-limb impairments, and Quad, reserved for players with upper- and lower-limb limitations.