East Texas former collegiate athlete helps carry Olympic Torch through France

NACOGDOCHES, Texas ( KETK ) – When the Olympic torch reaches its destination in Paris, it will have been with the help of thousands of people– including Stephen F. Austin State University alumna Elena Bleicher.

Bleicher started the journey by taking the leap from her hometown of Gries, France all the way to Nacogdoches to become a Ladyjack in 2019. A full time college athlete, she was captain of the SFA tennis team before graduating last May with a degree in sports business.

“Competing in tennis is not only about winning or losing,” Bleicher wrote of her time at SFA. “Instead, the important life skills that tennis taught me, such as controlling my attitude, my efforts, my energy, and my strong connection with my teammates are lessons I will never forget.”

Bleicher’s skills go farther than the tennis court– she is working as the assistant coordinator for the Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay. That means she’s helping coordinate the event that takes the Olympic torch to Paris in time for the Games, even in part by carrying it there herself.

The Olympic Torch Relay spans more than 400 towns and cities in France, including five overseas regions, and will involve 10,000 Olympic Torchbearers. It started in Marseille on May 8 and will continue through July 26 when it is delivered to the heart of the Olympic Village.

While at SFA in 2021, Bleicher wrote about what she called her “ Lumberjack Life ,” detailing her life lessons in the Piney Woods.

“I am not sure where I will be in ten years, but I will always remember the cherished memories that I have made on campus including learning American culture, meeting lifelong friends, and competing on a dynamic team,” she wrote. “Thus, I could not be more thankful for the time I have spent at SFA.”

Her alma mater recognized her with a social media post, giving her a proud nod as she literally passes the torch in Seine-Saint-Denis. Aside from her Olympic activities, she is also pursuing a Master of Business Administration.

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