Surpassing yourself
For the 2026 edition, the theme of surpassing oneself is in the spotlight. Women from Normandy, each in their own field - sporting, artistic or professional - stand out for their commitment, daring and achievements.
A round-table discussion with Marion Joffle, Marie Léautey, Tatiana-Mosio Bongonga and Alexandra Saint-Pierre.
Free (reservation required)
Hosted by Caroline Quesnay.
Reservations at the Franciscaines reception desk, and online.
Marie Léautey: The former finance director in Singapore gave up everything to realize her dream: a round-the-world run. For two and a half years, this nomadic Frenchwoman covered 28,000 km in 697 days, crossing 4 continents at a daily marathon pace. These dizzying figures earned her the world record for the fastest circumnavigation by a woman.
Tatiana-Mosio Bongonga: A tightrope walker from Hérouville-Saint-Clair, Tatiana-Mosio Bongonga has been walking a tightrope since the age of eight. Two decades later, she won the gold medal at the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain and became one of the few women to perform at great heights, without ties or nets. Her latest challenge: an unprecedented crossing over the Stade de France in June 2024.
Marion Joffle: Extreme swimmer born in March 1999 in Flers, the first Frenchwoman to swim 1000 metres in icy water. Ranked in the world's top 10 cold-water swimmers, she is nicknamed "The Smiling Penguin".
Alexandra Saint-Pierre: Played table tennis until the age of 11, when a neurological illness gradually forced her to give up her passion. Paraplegic following an accident, she decided to take up the racket again to make her childhood dreams come true. She became world singles champion in 2022 and participated for the 1st time in the Paralympic Games in Paris in 2024.