Exploration • Adventure • Competition
Cancer Survivor & Transplanted Athlete
« You need to know the limits of what is possible. Not to stop yourself but to aim at the impossible in the best conditions »
Ironman World Championship 2023
The pinnacle event in triathlon. Unique, historique, legendaire. For the first time ever outside the United States. In Nice, my hometown.
World Transplant Games 2023
A celebration of a second chance at life, demonstrating the success of transplant surgery and promoting the need to raise public awareness of organ donation.
Promoting Healthy Lifestyle Via Sports
As a transplanted athlete and cancer survivor, I promote the benefits of sports post-cancer and post-transplant.
I am the current European Champion in Cycling Time Trial and World Champion in Triathlon (age group).
As Team France Manager for the European Transplant Games (2024 will be in Lisbon, Portugal), I ensure Team France is set up for success with logistics, scheduling, and sports advisory.
Member of the 2023-2024 International Athletes Advisory Commission (AAC) for Triathlon 
, I inform the Sports Committee and Board about the specifity of triathlon for the World Transplant Games.
Media
Impacting as many people as possible to promote an extraordinary life post-cancer or post-transplant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bone marrow produces blood cells. It is often performed for patients with certain blood or bone marrow cancers, such as multiple myeloma or leukemia. The recipient’s immune system is usually destroyed with radiation and/or chemotherapy before the transplantation. It is a dangerous procedure with many possible complications and is usually reserved for patients with life-threatening diseases.
It varies person to person, but it is a long journey. For some people like myself, it can mean a lot of medical complications post-transplant, relearning how to walk, to exercise, but also chronic pain, medications, and limitations in your ability,… It can take many years and some scars will remain forever. It is important to keep the morale high as even though the complications are real, it is a life-saving procedure.
Possible complications from a bone marrow transplant include:
- Graft-versus-host disease
- Stem cell (graft) failure
- Organ damage
- Infections
- Cataracts
- Infertility
- New cancers
- Weaker immune system
It varies. I recommend to get closer to your country’s institution. In France, it is Trans-Forme, in the US, it runs by state (e.g. SoCal),… They are your local points of contact for many local events from a local cycling or run race to national games. Should you want to attend continental or world games, they will also help you in the selection and registration process as it also varies from country to country. Some games are allowed for people on dialysis, some aren’t.
Yes! You will meet an amazing community who has been through similar life events. There are mostly 3 levels of Transplant Games:
- National, e.g. France, Transplant Games of America,… It is usually the best way to get acquainted with the Games, your country teammates, and is usually open to everybody with a transplant (+donor in some events). You can also attend the games of a different country, e.g. if where you live is different or you just happen to be there for any reason. It is very inclusive, but you might not be eligible for national titles
- Continental: I only know of the European one, which are also inclusive of people with dialysis
- World Games: Two versions, winter and summer, each every 2 years. This is the highest level, with more than 3,000 participants. Those are very exciting and last for one week, in a different location everytime. Those can require some selections based on the country you represent
The first thing to consider is the location of the games and your ability to travel post-transplant. Then, attending events based on your fitness level and interests is a good idea. Some sports are more intense than others, and the level is higher at international competition than national. But that should not be a blocker either way. Their main role beyond competition is to “visibly demonstrate the benefits of successful organ transplantation, work to increase public awareness of its success and thereby increase organ donation rates, as well as promote the full rehabilitation and wellbeing of our participants.” (WTG Federation).