Kader KLOUCHI (ALG / FRA)
Olympian Artist – Painting: Beijing 2022
Long jumper, painter and sculptor Kader Klouchi sees himself as a man of multiple perspectives. The athlete represented Algeria at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, having switched disciplines from triple jump to long jump less than a year before the Games. He set a new French long jump record in 1997, and again in 1998. His sporting career has earned him numerous titles, as well as regular appearances at the French, European and world championships. He retired from international competition in 2004 but remains active in the sports world.
Now a professional artist, he draws parallels between art and sport, saying: “sport nourishes the body, art nourishes the soul”. Kader Klouchi is a member of several artists’ associations, and his favourite theme to explore is, unsurprisingly, movement. When he paints, he seeks to capture moments of intense energy where human beings surpass their own capabilities.
ARTISTIC PROJECT
SKI ALPIN
FLAMME OLYMPIQUE
MULTI DISCIPLINES
Kelly Salchow MacArthur participated in the Paris edition of the Olympian Artists programme by leading creative workshops to create collages inspired by the Olympic values and photographs taken in their local neighborhood with at-risk children living in foster homes in the 10th and 19th districts of Paris in October 2023.
"We talked about Olympic values, which can truly provide life lessons and guidance in terms of the choices we make when faced with decisions. The values of self-confidence, resilience, determination, teamwork, self-actualization, fair play, and setting long-term goals can guide us in pursuing our strengths to the point of reaching our potential."
Questions and answers
What does being an Olympian or Paralympian mean to you personally? How does it define your approach to life and how you view yourself and the world?
Being an Olympian means doing your very best and never giving up, being indiscriminately accepting of your opponents, and respecting the rules. These principles must be respected in society as a universal ethic that everyone can apply.
What do the Olympic values mean to you?
The values are tolerance, acceptance of differences and mutual respect. They are vectors of togetherness and peace.
How do you explain to people that the Olympic Games are more than just a sports competition?
The Games are a time for coming together, a time when all nations converge towards the same goal and unite in a spirit of sharing and reconciliation.
If you could go back in time and give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
“Don’t be so impatient!”
Are there parallels in your approach to your art and your approach to your sport?
Art and sport are intimately linked in my opinion, insofar as both activities lead to self-discovery. For a long time, I thought that sport and painting were a way to escape and forget. But now I know that, far from being a means of escape, they’re resources that help us to build ourselves and feel alive. With time and experience, I think that these two practices have forced me to concentrate, refocus and therefore get closer to my true self.
Meet the artists
Olympian artists at Beijing 2022
