“Hoods are the anti-system side”: when bodybuilders from Bercy intimidate tourists

The bus from Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport stops at Bercy covered station (12th century). Stepping out of their cars, tourists leave this dilapidated center, which will close after the 2024 Games in Paris, greeted by the strains of classic French rap. “It’s like a scene from a movie set in a prison,” says the Dutch traveler as soon as she steps outside into Bercy Park.

This is the scene that appears before her. Public bodybuilding centers have been stormed. Mamadou pulls himself up, attaching a weight to his belt. Hooded Ludo does push-ups while Yusuf trains his triceps on the parallel bars. All three men are athletes with sculpted bodies and social media stars.

The former has almost 2 million followers on TikTok. Each of his sessions is broadcast live on his account. In the background, their exercises highlight the hits of Kaaris and other successful rappers. “As I walked past, I told myself that there were a lot of men there and that it was potentially dangerous,” the young woman said.

“It’s free, we help each other and move forward together”

At first glance, “we may shock,” Ludo suggests, “but we create a good atmosphere!” » In his first year of higher education, 20-year-old Armand, originally from Val-d’Oise, trains two to four times a week at a street workout site created about ten years ago. “The first time I waited ten minutes before moving towards the facilities, I didn’t dare,” recalls the young man, still impressed by his strength training partners.

“They are French, Malians, Syrians, Afghans,” Medi de Bercy lists. Here, this former homeless man who works in transportation is a bit like the sheriff of Bercy Street Workout, a “brother” to some, a “boss” to others. “We created this area of ​​homeless people, people of immigrant origin. It’s free, we help each other and move forward together, everyone is welcome. »

“It’s the atmosphere jail break but we are not doing anything wrong.”

Robert met them. This 54-year-old active Parisian was strolling through the park while jogging and discovered the atmosphere around the place that has now become a benchmark in France. Rap videos were filmed there. “I live in the 13th arrondissement, I come to training almost every day, they are very friendly. And I discovered rap sounds, I really like them! »

“We are not gangsters,” says Medhi. Travelers leaving the FlixBus are impressed, it reminds us of the ghetto, Harlem, it’s the atmosphere jail break (two concrete walls of the station frame part of the land plot). But we’re not doing anything wrong. The police often come to us, and some of the athletes who train are police officers, soldiers, and civil servants. “What about the hood? “It’s for fun, a bit of an anti-system side. It may not be ideal during the VigiPirates period,” he admits.

All material is taken from the street.

“I’ve already been told that I’m scary,” Yusuf remarks. But I take off my hood and explain to them. I train young people, including girls, who are involved in bodybuilding,” continues the athlete, who lifts a barbell of about 105 kg. All material is taken from the street. “These are weights and construction beams,” Mehdi smiles.

Here, “the body is more than a sports instrument,” says the “boss” of the establishment. It is sculpted, processed like work. The Bercy bodybuilders were also photographed by artist Marine Peixoto. His photographs are exhibited at BAL, a cultural venue located in the 18th arrondissement. The exhibition, which will last until May 19, 2024, has even been called “Paris 2024.”