The Benin rower Privel Hinkati, 32 years old and born in Caen, has chosen to represent his parents’ country by rowing during the competitions with one hand. A personal adventure that has matured for a long time and been carried out with weapon power.
It is no longer a dream, just the reward for sacrifice, perseverance and daily efforts. Privel Hinkati has just done much more, from 6 in the morning in June, on the Caen Canal to the sea.
He devoured a dozen kilometers in his eight meters. Another training session on the way to Tokyo and an Olympic ideal imagined nine years ago. “I was at the Olympics in London with my sister. I saw the final in the women’s 400m: I felt the arena vibrate and it made me dream,” he recalls. Eventually, I put a project in my head. I could see that it was especially necessary to help create a federation, but also this whole high level, because I was already rowing in France. But the international level is a step or two above. “
Stick to your dream
The challenge is gradually taking shape for this licensee of the Société Nautique de Caen et du Calvados, who must combine his passion and his job as IT project manager for the city. In October 2019, this is the first result. Fifth, when he qualified for the Africa Zone, he got his ticket to the games.
After the joy, it’s time to really go in, almost alone, for an exciting but expensive adventure … ”For the Olympics, I had to raise about 100,000 euros. The equipment already costs 15,000. We have trips all over the world, internships, the athlete lists. Every plane ticket is expensive! Going to Austria, for example, is not far, but what do I do by boat? You have to find a car, the right trailer … It’s not that simple. “
But Privel Hinkati clings, helped by his coaches, Jérémy Brunet in France and a woman, Reilly Dampeer in the United States, where he gained experience for a year before returning to Caen, where he discovered rowing at the age of 14. Daniel Transon, the former president of Société Nautique, is proud of the progress his member has made.
“This is the second time we have a rower at the games. The first, 1992, had left us a few months earlier, because our structures did not allow him to complete his sports project, he says. But six months later he was fifth at the Olympics … So I especially wish that Privel would have fun and not regret anything during the competitions he will do. “
Trying to wake up cold in Benin
However, the games are not Privel Hinkati’s only ambition. Encouraging the professions in the country with the young national federation is the second part of the project and the potential is real.
“We have many fantastic lakes in Benin. At twenty kilometers you can get over lagoons, especially in the southern part of the country, describes Caennais. As soon as you get there you really tell yourself that you have everything you need to row! Today there are five clubs. The goal is for rowing to become one of the favorite sports, because we have people who already have a natural ability on the water. “To better identify Benin on the world rowing map, he will first try to make a name for himself in Tokyo among the stars in the waterways and complete a somewhat crazy challenge to the end.
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