The skier Armand Marchant has regained his top level thanks to an exoskeleton. It’s the Ski~Mojo!
The skier Armand Marchant has regained his top level thanks to an exoskeleton.
Monday, December 16, 2019 by Laëtitia Bernard – ESPRIT SPORT
Listen to the column on France Inter: https: //www.franceinter.fr
The Alpine Ski World Cup made a stop this weekend in Val d’Isère. On the slopes, we notably saw a young Belgian skier who finished eighteenth in the slalom: Armand Marchant, who had been seriously injured during a competition three years ago.
Seven surgeries and about two years later, he decided to take on the challenge and try to return to the top level. He put his skis back on, starting on small slopes with little incline, as his knee quickly caused him pain.
He also needed to find sponsors again, as many tend to pull away when you get injured. That’s when he spotted an unusual offer: the one from the company developing the exoskeleton — an artificial leg frame with a belt that wraps around the pelvis and straps along the entire leg down to the foot. A spring functions as a quadriceps, compressing with each bend and releasing energy during extension phases. It supports about one-third of the body’s weight.
Today, he has achieved his goal: returning to the World Cup.
He is now ranked in the top 40 in world skiing. Of course, he doesn’t use the exoskeleton in competitions, but he does rely on it during certain training sessions and, most notably, in his personal skiing activities, such as going off-piste with his family. Without it, he would need to spare his leg and might miss out on this enjoyment.
Armand Marchant finished 18th in the 2019 Critérium de la Première Neige in Val d’Isère (21st in the first run, 7th in the second run).
Similar articles
