Philippe Wakim, during a training session. (Credit: Photo provided by the athlete; montage by Jaimee-Lee Haddad/L'Orient-Le Jour)
In the Paris metro, Philippe Wakim was on his way to work when his phone rang. It was May 21, 2024, and the call was coming from Lebanon. Read also Olympic Games: Caramnob Sagaipov, naturalized Lebanese, aims for the podium On the other end of the line, Imad Nahas, Secretary General of the Lebanese Fencing Federation, told him that he had qualified for the Olympic Games in Paris. The 24-year-old French-Lebanese, who grew up in Bouliac in southwest France, couldn't believe it. He missed his metro connection.“The Olympics were a distant goal,” he said. “But now it's a dream come true,” Wakim said.“Philippe has been qualified through the Olympic universality program. He has done a lot of fencing in Asia with good results,” said Laurent Bel, his coach at the Paris-Nord fencing club where the young fencer is preparing for the...
In the Paris metro, Philippe Wakim was on his way to work when his phone rang. It was May 21, 2024, and the call was coming from Lebanon. Read also Olympic Games: Caramnob Sagaipov, naturalized Lebanese, aims for the podium On the other end of the line, Imad Nahas, Secretary General of the Lebanese Fencing Federation, told him that he had qualified for the Olympic Games in Paris. The 24-year-old French-Lebanese, who grew up in Bouliac in southwest France, couldn't believe it. He missed his metro connection.“The Olympics were a distant goal,” he said. “But now it's a dream come true,” Wakim said.“Philippe has been qualified through the Olympic universality program. He has done a lot of fencing in Asia with good results,” said Laurent Bel, his coach at the Paris-Nord fencing club where the young fencer is preparing for...