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Air Liquide, Official Hydrogen Supporter of Paris 2024

 
Air Liquide is proud to have supported the environmental ambitions of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 by supplying hydrogen of renewable origin for the event's official fleet.
 

The future belongs to us all. The climate emergency proves that there’s no such thing as an individual triumph.
We’re all facing an immense challenge: developing a shared, more responsible future.

 

  • Our sport?
    Finding solutions for the climate

  • Our greatest adversary?
    Inaction

  • Our daily routine?
    Innovation and inclusion, excellence and perseverance

  • Our champions?
    All those who come together to act

 
Our mantra? Our greatest triumph will be achieved together.

Destination Paris 2024: behind the scenes of Air Liquide

Air Liquide and Paris 2024 share the same ambition: implementing practical solutions to meet the challenge of climate change. That's what our partnership is all about.

François Jackow

Chief Executive Officer of Air Liquide

Hydrogen, a key to accelerating the energy transition

Given that transport accounts for a quarter1 of global CO2 emissions, the climate emergency requires a range of solutions, including hydrogen.

It offers real advantages, including a great range and minimal charging times, for heavy and intensive transport, like the vehicles in Paris 2024’s official fleet.

Air Liquide supplied the hydrogen of renewable origin needed to refuel the official fleet of hydrogen-powered vehicles of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 for the duration of the event.

Meet our team of athletes

Ezra Frech

Para athletics

Ezra Frech is an American Paralympic athlete and is on a mission to break the systemic barriers that exist for people with disabilities. Born with congenital limb differences, he competes in the high jump, long jump and sprint events. He recently won the gold medal in the T63 men’s high jump event at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris and holds the world record in this category. He is a double gold medalist at the Paralympic Games Paris 2024 in the 100m and high jump.

His commitment to improving access to sport for people with disabilities has led him to co-found his own association. This organization offers free and year-round access to sporting activities for children, adults and veterans with physical disabilities and visual impairments.

Kgothatso Montjane

Wheelchair tennis

Kgothatso Montjane is a wheelchair tennis player from South Africa. In 2018, she became the first black South African woman to play at Wimbledon. In 2023, she won the doubles title at Roland Garros and the US Open with Yui Kamiji. 

Born with a congenital condition affecting both hands and one foot, Kgothatso Montjane has been named South Africa’s Disabled Sportswoman of the Year three times and is currently ranked 11th in the world in wheelchair tennis. She took part in her fourth Paralympic Games in 2024, following the Games in London, Rio and Tokyo.

Kgothatso Montjane was named Disabled Sportswoman of the Year at the Gauteng Sports and Recreation Awards (2013, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023). She was also named the Disabled Sportswoman of the Year at the G Sports Spar Awards (2013, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020).

Yohan Peter

Wheelchair fencing - Épée

A nurse care coordinator, Yohan discovered wheelchair fencing during an introductory course at a rehabilitation center in April 2016 at the age of 27. After impressive performances on the national circuit in 2016 and 2017, he joined the international circuit in January 2018. Having taken part in the World Cup, he joined the French team in September 2018 for the European Championships, where he won a silver medal in the team event.

In 2019, he took part in his first World Championships, winning the silver medal once again in the team event. He successfully qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, finishing 10th in the individual competition.

At the Paralympic Games Paris 2024, he and his compatriots won the bronze medal in the team foil event.

Margaux Rifkiss

Fencing - Sabre

Margaux Rifkiss is one of the most talented saber fencers of her generation. 2023 was a record-breaking year for her: she won the gold medal with the French team at the European Championships and the silver medal at the World Championships. 

In addition to being a talented athlete, Margaux is also a keen businesswoman. A firm believer in sport’s therapeutic benefits, she founded her own company in 2021 to provide nursing home residents with the opportunity to learn to fence. She also works with young people to introduce them to the joys of fencing.

She has been supported by Air Liquide since 2023 as part of the Performance Pact.

Thibaut Rigaudeau

Para Triathlon

Thibaut Rigaudeau is one of the most promising French para triathletes. In 2021, he took part in his first Paralympic Games in Tokyo with his guide, Cyril Viennot. European vice-champion in 2021 and double World vice-champion in 2022 and in 2023. At the Paralympic Games Paris 2024, Thibaut Rigaudeau climbed onto the second step of the podium and won the silver medal, rewarding his tireless efforts and determination.

His disability is linked to a genetic disease called retinitis pigmentosa, diagnosed at the age of 8. This pathology is characterized by a non-linear decline in visual acuity and visual field. It is only in 2018 that Thibault discovers para triathlon and receives his first call-up to the French national team the following year.

Since 2023 he has been supported by Air Liquide - via its subsidiary Air Liquide France Industrie and the Mission Handicap of the Group - as part of the Pacte de performance.

Laura Tarantola

Rowing

Laura Tarantola is one of the best rowers in the world in her category. Fourteen-time French champion in the light weight category, and 2018 world champion in the individual category, she's built to perform.

With her teammate Claire Bové, she is well-known on the World and European podiums in the lightweight double sculls. Together, they became Olympic vice-champions in 2021 in Tokyo. The lightweight rowers have also reached the second place on the European Championship podium in 2019, in Lucerne and in 2022 in Munich.

Air Liquide - via its subsidiary Air Liquide France Industrie - as part of the Pacte de performance has been supporting Laura  since 2021.