CHELSEA WERNER *In The First Place

CHELSEA WERNER
*In The First Place

forward Hannah Rose Prendergast
interview Alban E. Smajli

Chelsea Werner has a flair for gymnastics. By that, I mean she’s known to nail her routine in front of an audience, so much so that they call her “Showtime.”

Growing up in the Bay Area as part of an athletic family, Chelsea tried a few sports, but gymnastics was the one that stuck. Progress came gradually at first, though she ultimately thrived in the competitive environment, thanks to a coach who treated her like any other gymnast.

In 2012, Chelsea won her first gold medal at the USA Special Olympics and claimed the title for four consecutive years. Naturally, it wasn’t long before the decorated athlete took a shine to modelling. With her bright blue eyes, beaming smile, and fearless attitude, it’s clear the camera loves Chelsea Werner as much as we do.

LE MILE Magazine, AGE OF CHANGE Nr. 37
Fall/Winter 2024-25

Chelsea Werner photographed by Manon Clavelier

top KENZA LATRIDES
collar AMBUSH
shorts ÖCTAGON
bag COPERNI
shoes + earrings FASHION ARCHIVE

“Every gymnastics skill I learn takes me much longer to achieve than other gymnasts. I require much more repetition to master any new skill. Some of my skills have taken five years to achieve.”

Chelsea and Lisa Werner speak with Alban E. Smajli
first published: LE MILE Magazine - AGE OF CHANGE, Issue Nr. 37

sunglasses AMBUSH
boots FASHION ARCHIVE

top ÖCTAGON
shirt AMBUSH
coat HELMUT LANG

Alban E. Smajli
Chelsea, you have broken so many barriers in gymnastics and beyond. What initially inspired you to take up gymnastics, and did you ever imagine you'd achieve such heights?

Chelsea & Lisa Werner
I started Special Olympics gymnastics when I was 8. I loved being part of a team and having teammates. I especially loved the competitions and having the crowd cheering for me. I was just having fun and had no idea I would ever become a World Champion gymnast.

Winning the World Championships in gymnastics three times is an incredible feat. Congratulations on all the success! Can you walk us through what it felt like to stand on that podium for the first time?

For most of my gymnastics career, I have competed in USA Gymnastics. I train and compete with gymnasts who have no disabilities. For many years, I always took last place. I rarely ever got an award. It was usually only once a year that I got to compete in Special Olympics.
When I won my first World Championship in London, I felt like I was in a dream. I was very emotional when they raised the United States flag and played my national anthem.

Your journey is not just about winning medals but also about challenging perceptions. What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced as an athlete with Trisomy 21, and how did you overcome it?

Individuals born with Down Syndrome have low muscle tone. We can improve it, but it takes a lot of work. Every gymnastics skill I learn takes me much longer to achieve than other gymnasts. I require much more repetition to master any new skill. Some of my skills have taken five years to achieve.

Gymnastics demands immense physical and mental strength. Can you share a particularly tough moment in your career and how you pushed through it?

My biggest challenge happened last year. I had my first mental block. This is not uncommon in gymnastics. Many gymnasts quit gymnastics when this happens. After tumbling for over 15 years, I couldn’t tumble at all.

It took many months to get over it. I had to go back and relearn how to do even the simplest tumbling. My coach was very patient and persistent with me. I got my tumbling back just in time for my third World Championship in South Africa.

You’ve become a role model for many. Your achievements have paved the way for future generations. What advice would you give to young athletes with disabilities who are just starting out?

I would say to be proud of every little accomplishment. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Focus on your own goals and find a coach who believes in your goals along with you.

The upcoming theme for LE MILE is "AGE OF CHANGE." How do you see your role in advocating for more inclusivity and recognition for athletes with disabilities?

Thanks to social media, athletes with disabilities are finally getting recognized. I get recognized all over the world as a result of social media. I am one example of what an individual with a disability can achieve as an athlete. Hopefully, I am opening some doors for up-and-coming athletes with disabilities. We all need and deserve the same opportunities to reach our full potential.

Aside from gymnastics, you’ve also pursued modeling and advocacy. How do these different aspects of your career complement each other?

I have been performing in front of cameras and crowds for a long time. I am very comfortable in front of a camera. The modeling world is becoming more diverse, but models with disabilities are still underrepresented. I am trying to change this and advocating for more representation.

If you could change one thing about the gymnastics world to make it more inclusive, what would it be?

I would love to see more individuals with disabilities included in gymnastics. When I compete in USA Gymnastics, I am always the only one with a disability. I am seeing and hearing that a wave of up-and-coming gymnasts with Down Syndrome is on their way! Many of the parents say that it is a result of seeing my achievements. That makes me so happy!

Looking ahead, what are your dreams and goals for the next phase of your career, both in and out of gymnastics?

I usually don’t think too far in advance. I live more in the present. For now, I still love gymnastics and modeling. In the future, I would love to help teach young girls gymnastics!

dress KENZA LATRIDES
others FASHION ARCHIVE

all FASHION ARCHIVE

“The modeling world is becoming more diverse, but models with disabilities are still underrepresented. I am trying to change this and advocating for more representation.”

Chelsea and Lisa Werner speak with Alban E. Smajli
first published: LE MILE Magazine - AGE OF CHANGE, Issue Nr. 37

all FASHION ARCHIVE

credits

talent CHELSEA WERNER
seen MANON CLAVELIER
styled CLAUDE PAYEN DE LAPIERRE
produced MELANY COHEN
make up CHARLOTTE NGUYEN
hair MIWA MOROKI
nails MAËLWENN LOBBÉ

fashion assistant KATERYNA DUDCHENKO
light technician CAMERON KOSKAS
digital operator VASSILI BOCLÉ

fashion director GINEVRA VALENTE
artistic director ALBAN E. SMAJLI

Special thanks
Lisa Werner, Jéremy Charolais, Nathalie Dersoir, Bienvenu, and all the Stade Charléty staff

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.aesthetic talk LOLITA ENO *Soy un Escorpión

Enzo Lefort *Fancing Frontier

Enzo Lefort
*Fancing Frontier

written Sarah Arendts

With a blend of skill and style, Enzo Lefort invites us into the intricate realm of his sport, where athleticism meets artistry in a symphony of movement. Lefort's journey to the forefront of fencing is a testament to dedication and innovation.

With each fluid motion, he challenges the status quo and pushes the boundaries of athletic expression. Engage with Enzo Lefort as he shares insights on its evolution, the fusion of athleticism and fashion, and his unwavering commitment to inspiring future generations of athletes. Learn all on the arena where passion ignites performance, and witness the extraordinary through the lens of a true visionary.

Enzo Lefort
seen by Jojo Harper

“Being able to compete at the Olympics at home is a once-in-a-lifetime chance! […] My goal is to make everyone who is going to watch me proud.”

Enzo Lefort speaks with Sarah Arendts
LE MILE Magazine TRANCE, Nr. 36

Sarah Arendts
Enzo, as a fencer who has reached the pinnacle of your sport, how do you balance the intense focus required in competition with relaxation and leisure in your personal life?
Enzo Lefort
Professional sport can be really challenging on a daily basis, as failure has a constant place in our journey. I personally try to always have side projects outside of fencing. These projects help me keep my head fresh and always be fulfilled. It is important as I need to put this mental energy into my competitions.

Your collaborations with Louis Vuitton and Nike merge the worlds of elite sport and high fashion. How do you see these partnerships influencing the perception of fencing within the fashion industry and among its followers?
Fencing is kind of a "niche" sport with a really poor representation on TV. I feel that being able to work with these two leaders in their industries proves that visibility isn’t everything. Nowadays, people often think about your number of followers and your reach. I personally think you can be more legitimate by being true to yourself, having a great image, and doing beautiful and useful things outside your sport.

During a match, athletes often describe entering a ‘zone’ or a state of flow that feels like a trance. Can you share an experience when you were completely absorbed in the moment? How does this mental state contribute to your performance?
This is a state of mind where your body moves by itself. You’re so in phase and in the present moment that you’re not thinking anymore. By instinct, you take all the good decisions during the action, leading you to see everything slower, as if you were outside your body! I’m lucky enough to have felt this feeling in the Olympic Games finals in Tokyo 2021 team event!

With the Paris 2024 Olympics on the horizon, what does competing in your home country mean to you personally and professionally? How are you preparing for this monumental event in your career?
Being able to compete at the Olympics at home is a once-in-a-lifetime chance! I like to think I train harder than ever to give my very best on the day of the competition! My goal is to make everyone who is going to watch me proud. I’m thinking about my wife, my daughter, my parents, my sister, my friends, and the whole French people! I’m also aware of the spotlight that will be pointed at the athletes during these months. And I try to use them to shed light on my personal projects such as my charity or my documentary about fencing in Guadeloupe that I wrote.

Fencing is a sport with deep historical roots. How do you think modern technology and training methods are changing the game, and where do you see the sport going in the next decade?
Modern technology and training methods help fencing become more spectacular, in a physical way and in terms of visual show for the spectators. I can see the sport evolving even further in these two directions during the next decade.

Working with brands like Louis Vuitton and Nike, how do you ensure that sponsorships align with your personal values and the essence of fencing? What do you look for in a partnership?
Fencing being an amateur sport, I need these sponsorships in order to make a living from it. But not at any cost. I am really paying attention to the brand I work with, matching my image in terms of values and positioning. I always make sure the brand I’m working with will help me with my side projects such as photography, my podcast, or my charity. Also, I pay attention to the brand being subtle when it communicates, especially using my image.

As a prominent figure in fencing, you have a unique platform. How do you hope to use your influence to impact the sport and inspire the next generation of athletes?
I always make sure that I share the values of sport such as hard work, resilience, fair play... I also try to show that we can be more than athletes, that there are other things we are good at. I reached a moment in my life and my career where I can give back to the younger ones and the ones in need. At my very own level, I try to help those in need, and if everyone is doing the same, things can change.

With your keen eye for fashion, how do you integrate style and functionality in your training and competition wear? How important is personal style in expressing yourself within the sport?
When it comes to fashion in training and competition, I am very functional. I tend to wear mostly black outfits, but I pay attention to the materials and the fit of my clothes. I personalize my outfit with my "jewelry," a thing that other fencers mostly don’t do. Fencing is a very normative sport, and the uniform is very codified. I like to keep my freedom wearing my personal jewels, in order to keep my personality.

“By instinct, you take all the good decisions during the action, leading you to see everything slower, as if you were outside your body! ”

Enzo Lefort speaks with Sarah Arendts
LE MILE Magazine TRANCE, Nr. 36

The mental aspect of sport is often as challenging as the physical. How do you maintain mental health and resilience during the highs and lows of your career?
My different projects outside of fencing help me to always be curious, to always learn new things. Doing this, my mind isn’t filled 100% of my time with fencing. Because when you win, everything is perfect, but when you lose, you see yourself as someone not capable. Doing other things outside my sport really helps me to relativize this.

Looking towards the future, what legacy do you hope to leave in the world of fencing and beyond? How do you want to be remembered both as an athlete and as a person?
In my sport, I would like to be remembered as an athlete who always played by the rules, who never cheated, and who respected every single one of his opponents. And then, I would like to be remembered as someone who marked the history of his sport. And then I will do my best effort to help and empower the next generation of athletes in sport.

follow talent @enzo_lefort

all images (c) Jojo Harper