During a visit to a Lewiston shoemaker Thursday, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins marveled at the white buck shoes created by Rancourt & Co. for the American Olympic team in Paris. Steve Collins/Sun Journal

LEWISTON — Touring a Lewiston shoemaking firm Thursday, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins praised the craftsmanship that led Rancourt & Co.’s contract to provide shoes for American athletes to wear at the opening and closing ceremonies at the Paris Olympics.

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins spoke in English and French on Thursday to many of Rancourt & Co.’s 40 employees who helped make the white bucks worn during Olympic ceremonies in Paris this year by U.S. athletes. Steve Collins/Sun Journal

“I love it that you’re in Maine,” Collins told the workers who created more than 572 pairs of white bucks for the country’s athletes.

Shoemaker Mike Rancourt said he was a little disappointed the opening ceremonies, which featured athletes on boats floating down the Seine River, didn’t show the shoes, but he has high hopes they’ll be more prominent during the closing ceremonies on Sunday.

Collins got pointers on shoemaking from a number of employees engaged in cutting leather, stitching and a host of other careful work that Rancourt specializes in.

She called it “a tribute to Maine craftsmanship.”

“We’ve always been the best,” said Maine’s senior senator.

As she walked around the Bridge Street factory, Collins talked with workers in English and French, a language she said she picked up on the streets of Caribou as she grew up. She also studied it in school from seventh grade until her sophomore year of college, Collins said.