海角大神

In a gym tucked away from the buzz of busy Paris in the suburb of Antony, a handful of young girls in leotards and leggings leap through the air, spinning clubs, balls, and colorful ribbons. Among them is Peterson Ceus. 聽

His sturdy, athletic build doesn鈥檛 make him a natural for the sport of rhythmic gymnastics 鈥� which often prefers a long, balletic body 鈥� and yet his dynamism has made him one of France鈥檚 most promising stars in the sport. He鈥檚 also one of the few men. 聽

But if he has any say in the matter, that鈥檚 going to change. Mr. Ceus is single-handedly聽moving the discussion forward about allowing men to participate in the sport of rhythmic gymnastics in France, which only recognizes women at an elite level.聽

鈥淚鈥檝e become very used to being the only guy in competitions, but things are starting to change,鈥� says Mr. Ceus, who competes at a national level. 鈥淚f the French Gymnastics Federation can show that it鈥檚 possible for men to compete, then it will encourage more to join the sport.鈥澛�

His efforts so far have been rejected; entrenched attitudes at the administrative level have created a competitive ceiling that discourages many boys. Mr. Ceus has written to the French Gymnastics Federation (FFGym) about the matter, and in 2018 created a nonprofit to bring gender equality to the sport.聽

In October, he brought his case to the Council of State, France鈥檚 highest administrative court, which also refused to recognize men in high-level competition, stating that the lack of a men鈥檚 category was neither discriminatory nor a violation of his rights. 聽

Nevertheless, on weekends, between his busy training schedule and newfound activism, he coaches a class of elementary school-age boys, in hopes that his fight is not only about him 鈥� that a fresh generation of male rhythmic gymnasts can one day pursue their own dreams.聽

鈥淭he sport of rhythmic gymnastics is extremely feminized, and in order to have a real discussion about [gender], it鈥檚 going to take someone with enormous technical performance as well as charisma,鈥� says David Lortholary, an independent French sports journalist who has covered rhythmic gymnastics for over 10 years and managed Gymnast Magazine for five.

鈥淚 see a lot in common with synchronized swimming, which was very feminized and now includes mixed events for men and women. So it鈥檚 possible, but we鈥檒l need patience for it to happen.鈥�

Finding his sport

Mr. Ceus was athletic growing up 鈥� doing horseback riding, circus training, rock climbing, and dance. But when he was 10 years old, he went for a physical aptitude test for rhythmic gymnastics at a club in the Paris suburb of Cergy. He had discovered the sport by watching a YouTube video of a Russian gymnast named Marina Shpekht.

Colette Davidson

Peterson Ceus has been trying through the French courts and French gymnastics鈥� governing body to have men recognized at elite competitions. His efforts, so far, have been rejected.

鈥淲hen I first met him, he was this little boy who ran everywhere,鈥� says Brenda Njitchoua, a coach at the Antony club and the first person to test Mr. Ceus in the sport. 鈥淚 told him, 鈥楾his is usually a girls鈥� sport. You might get teased.鈥� But he said, 鈥業 don鈥檛 care.鈥� He already knew that he wanted to do it.鈥澛�

Ms. Njitchoua, who grew up next door to Mr. Ceus, says she talked with his family to make sure it was on board. 鈥淲e came from a rough neighborhood, where you can get insulted or beat up [for not conforming to social norms],鈥� she says. 鈥淚 wondered, would stereotypes destroy him? But it all passed over his head.鈥澛�

Now Mr. Ceus splits his time between two clubs in the Paris area, training largely autonomously since finishing his master鈥檚 degree in sports management. His coaches,聽Olivia de Ponte Ramboux and Mauricio L茅on, are based in Tenerife in the Canary Islands, and he travels there regularly for more focused instruction. 聽

Mr. Ceus is allowed to compete during women鈥檚 competitions, but only up to a national level. Part of his fight with the FFGym is for admittance into elite level competitions. In 2018, Mr. Ceus wrote the governing body a letter requesting more equality in rhythmic gymnastics, but was told that there weren鈥檛 enough men participating in the sport to create a men鈥檚 category; 385 men are registered rhythmic gymnasts in France today, up from 50 five years ago.

鈥淎ll you need for a podium is three people,鈥� says Mr. Ceus. 鈥淚 still find it very strange that France doesn鈥檛 accept men in the sport yet. We鈥檙e always talking about gender equality here in terms of equality for women. But this is the same issue.鈥� 聽

Mr. Ceus can find reward for his hard work in Spain, the only country to recognize men in elite competition. In 2020, he became a champion in the men鈥檚 category in Spain, and has won medals in nonofficial competitions: gold in 2019 at the AmsterdaMMasters international tournament as well as at the Aubagne international tournament in 2013. He has also won several local competitions.聽

His female teammates say they don鈥檛 see a problem with him or other young men competing against them 鈥� they welcome it.聽

鈥淚 often hear stereotypes about men competing. It鈥檚 very hard for them to find their place in this sport,鈥� says Celia Sellin, who competes at a national level and has trained alongside Mr. Ceus for seven years. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very hard to judge men and women in the same way. Women are traditionally more flexible, elegant, while men have more muscle strength and force. You can鈥檛 compare them. There should be two separate categories in competition.鈥�

Next-gen gymnasts 聽

On the first Saturday after winter break, Mr. Ceus is back on the mat at the Antony gym. But this time, he鈥檚 standing at one end of the floor while three young boys stand across from him. Mr. Ceus instructs them to aim well and throw their red ropes over his shoulder, then run across the mat to grab them. They take the opportunity to leap and bound as they go. 聽

This blend of circus, gymnastics, and dance is the reason Damien Danel, age 11, loves rhythmic gymnastics. He takes classes at another club and has been attending Mr. Ceus鈥� all-boys class since it began in September.聽

鈥淧eterson is so strong and he鈥檚 really nice. We drive 20 minutes to come to his class,鈥� says Damien, dressed in loose black shorts and a T-shirt, black-rimmed glasses pressed against the bridge of his nose. 鈥淭he fact that there鈥檚 a special class for boys shows that this sport is not just for girls.鈥澛�

Damien鈥檚 parents say they鈥檝e always encouraged him to pursue his love for rhythmic gymnastics and are proud to support Mr. Ceus鈥� cause. They have another son, who participates in other sports and has not encountered the same friction. The couple have always embraced their differences.聽 聽

鈥淲hen Damien was 6, he asked me, 鈥榃hy can girls be tomboys but not the opposite? Why am I strange?鈥欌�� says his mother, Diane Danel, after practice. 鈥淲e told him, 鈥榊ou鈥檙e not strange. You just like other things.鈥� We鈥檝e always encouraged him to do what he loves.鈥澛�

As Mr. Ceus looks to the future, he dreams of men being allowed to compete in rhythmic gymnastics at the Olympics. At age 23, he recognizes that his time in the sport is limited, but that doesn鈥檛 mean his pursuit of equality for future generations is over. He鈥檚 planning another appeal to the FFGym. If he can get France on board, it could push other countries to follow. 聽

鈥淚鈥檓 sure things will evolve and that we鈥檒l get there,鈥� says Mr. Ceus. 鈥淧eople are smart enough to see that this discussion is happening and translate it into concrete action. It鈥檚 just a question of time.鈥�