Inspiration through surpassing oneself: Meet Paralympic athlete Sébastien Bichon.
Sometimes in life, obstacles are placed in front of us, testing our will and determination. But there are individuals who manage to turn these challenges into opportunities to surpass themselves and inspire others. Amputated at the age of 4, Sébastien Bichon is a top-level athlete - a bronze medalist in road cycling - who has always been an inspiration to others. bronze medallist in road cycling at the Sydney Paralympic Games please - is one of those inspiring examples. Despite an accident that changed his life forever, Sébastien turned his disability into a driving force, achieving remarkable feats and becoming a spokesperson for resilience. As partners in his Handi-Plano adventure, a daring 1500 km mountain bike trek across the Bolivian altiplano, we had the privilege of meeting Sébastien and sharing his incredible experience.
U-Exist: Hello Sébastien. Could you tell us about your background?
Sébastien Bichon: I'm a speaker who shares key moments from my life's journey. I've been an amputee since the age of 4, and I managed to overcome this ordeal by becoming a top-level athlete. I won the bronze medal in road cycling at the Sydney Games in 2001, then continued to practice sport and explore my passion for the mountains. I love landscapes, travelling and hiking... I've also climbed Mont Blanc twice. I'm currently preparing new adventures for the end of the year, including the Handi-Plano challenge for which U-exist.
UE: Can you tell us about the Handi-Plano challenge?
SB: Handi-plano is a four-person adventure: three able-bodied people and one disabled person (me). The aim of this adventure is to change the way we look at disability, to continue to show a positive image of it, and to prove that it's possible to live life in the best possible way. We want to prove that, despite the limits we impose on ourselves, anything is possible if we believe in ourselves. The challenge is to cover 1500 km by mountain bike over the Bolivian altiplano, at a constant altitude of 4000 meters. After ten days of cycling, we'll leave the mountain bikes behind to climb the Sajama peak, which rises to 6542 metres. This is why the preparation of my new walking prosthesis is essential. Once we've completed this ascent, we'll pick up our mountain bikes again and continue on to southern Bolivia, then on to Argentina, where we'll finish by climbing Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas, at 6962 metres. This adventure will last a total of 50 days.
UE: What kind of preparation does this require?
SB: The preparation is not as intense in terms of performance as for the Sydney Games, for example. It's mainly endurance work. I'm maintaining a decent level of fitness on the bike, and when the time comes, we'll step up the training a bit, but without going overboard.
UE: Have you always had this dual passion for mountains and cycling?
SB: Yes, my passion comes mainly from the pleasure of being on the move, whether by bike or on foot, and the joy of discovering grandiose landscapes. The mountains make it easy to combine these two passions.
UE: What do you look for in yourself when you take on these kinds of challenges (Olympics, climbs, Handi-Plano challenge)?
SB: For me, it's above all the pleasure that counts, even if there's also a competitive aspect and the will to win. Subconsciously, I know that the accident I suffered played a role. I decided not to be inferior to others and to prove that I could be as strong, if not stronger, than able-bodied people. That's what drove me, even if I realized it later. But when I say challenge, it's not really a challenge for me, it's more a question of personal pleasure. Even for the Handi-Plano challenge, it was my brother who wanted to go to Bolivia, and I offered to go with him. We didn't set ourselves a specific challenge. I simply wanted to discover beautiful landscapes and meet new people. And so things began. I climbed Mont Blanc for the first time in 2016 and then again in 2019. Initially, there was no notion of a challenge, I just wanted to go there because it was going to be superb and magnificent. That was really my basic motivation.
UE: Today, we get the impression that you want to inspire others through your career.
SB: Yes, that's exactly it. That's why I decided to change activities. It's important for me to pass on messages about surpassing oneself and resilience. If I can give others the keys, inspire them and get them going, that's a real driving force for me.
UE: Don't you think there are limits to this? Some people can't necessarily identify with a top athlete. What do you think about this?
SB: I understand this perspective, which is why I often speak at schools. The idea is to show that we're all the same and that if I've succeeded in one field, others can too, even if not necessarily in sport. Everyone can pursue their passions in whatever field they like. The message I want to get across is that when you want to do something you love and are passionate about, obstacles need not stand in your way. With this in mind, I've made a documentary called "Born-To-Ride" about my 1200 km journey by bike in less than 5 days, and I've also written a book about this adventure and my life's journey.
Photo: Pierre Bouras
UE: In this photo of you at Mont-Blanc, we can admire your beautiful U-Exist prosthesis. How important is it for you to personalize braces?
SB: Yes, completely. My first custom prosthesis was in 2019, and before that I was using standard, flesh-colored, polyester prostheses with no choice. Something clicked for me as a young adult when I started competing. I realized that, as a teenager, I was embarrassed by the way people looked at me. I wore sweatpants even in summer, for example. Even though everyone knew I was an amputee, I wasn't comfortable. Now it's completely the opposite: I don't even hide my prosthesis with foam, because my aim is to communicate and convey messages. Aesthetics are important, because they draw the eye and allow me to have a design I like. It's crucial to have a personalized aesthetic, whether it's a standard or customized choice. I know it can have an impact.
I'd like to share an anecdote with you. Once, in Briançon, I went for a bike ride, then went home to shower. Without having put my bike away yet, I came out wearing shorts and a t-shirt. I heard someone say "thank you, thank you". Initially, I didn't react because I didn't think it was directed at me. However, this person insisted, so I turned around and asked her why he was thanking me. She explained that her grandson had to have an amputation because of a problem with his foot. The family was despondent, the parents were despondent and they didn't know how their child would react. Seeing myself, mobile and comfortable with my prosthesis, gave them hope. This experience made me realize how important it is to show this and to have an aesthetic prosthesis. These interactions create conversations, smiles and help to play down the situation.