Team Adaptive , 12 athletes with disabilities
The team, made up of 12 athletes with disabilities or who have suffered from an illness, come from all walks of life and from the four corners of the world, and all have an inspiring story to tell!
From the MCC to the UTMB, these amateur runners have great adventures in store for us, illustrating that adaptability and resilience paves the way to surpassing oneself. Their motivation and objective are clear: to show that every obstacle can be inspiring and lead to great things. The team members, carefully selected for their prominence and positive reputation, embody the values of perseverance, inclusion and solidarity, running not only for themselves but also to motivate and broaden horizons about what is possible in sport. This initiative, the fruit of a collaboration with amputee athlete and keen trail runner Boris Ghirardi, aims to create a space where these athletes are not just participants but also sources of inspiration. For the first time, we have been able to bring together trail running icons such as Amy Palmiero-Winters, world-renowned for her perseverance, Jacky Hunt-Broersma, holder of numerous records, and Nicolas Ronget, who runs the trails with less than 2/10 vision in both eyes.
None of this would be possible without Boris Ghirardi, so please allow us to introduce him:
Team Adaptive wants to demonstrate that the real challenge lies within and that every kilometre covered is a victory against prejudice
Boris Ghirardi, nicknamed 'Robot Foot', is the team manager of Team Adaptive. Since the beginning of this project, Boris has devoted his energy to making it a success. Boris had his left leg amputated in 2019 but, as you can imagine, giving up is not in his vocabulary. Just two years after the operation and intensive rehabilitation, Boris took up the challenge of the Sierre-Zinal trail, and was able to redefine his own limits and those of the modern runner. But competing is not his only way of making an impact on the world of trail running and disability. He founded the Level Up association, which helps people with disabilities to get back into sport. This desire to share also led him to become involved in the development of the Hopper running blade, offering a unique opportunity to make running accessible to those who had given up hope.
Travis Warwick-Oliver - South Africa
Travis Warwick-Oliver, 31, is a South African tibial amputee following a motorbike accident three and a half years ago. For him, running is a passion born before his accident, but also a crucial part of his post-amputation life. Founder of the Rejuvenate SA organisation, he provides mobility aids to those in need in South Africa.
Nicolas Ronget – France
A visually impaired physiotherapist, 30-year-old Nicolas discovered trail running in 2021. Now he can run the trails with such ease that you won't believe us when we tell you that he has 2/10 vision in his better eye! His aim? To promote the adaptation of trail running to disability and to see the emergence of disabled sport categories.
Pol Makuri Redolad Garcia – Spain
Pol Makuri Redolad Garcia, 33, is a Spanish Paralympic athlete born with hemiparesis. A lifelong sports enthusiast, he has practiced mountaineering, roller hockey, cross-country skiing and mountain running. This year Pol also ran the Oman Desert Marathon, a 165km stage race across the Omani desert, once again demonstrating his determination and extraordinary abilities.
Julien Veysseyre – France
Julien Veysseyre, 37, lives in Clermont-Ferrand and is a father of two. A tibial amputee following a work accident at the age of 18, he has found sport to be an escape and a way of surpassing himself. His goal is to complete an ultra-trail, and he hopes to inspire others in difficulty through his performance.
Franck Derrien – France
Franck Derrien, a 39-year-old ultra-trail runner with Asperger's autism, always runs wearing his famous blue T-shirt that bears the message: "Je suis autiste, et alors?" (‘I am autistic, so what?’), and accompanied by Teddy, his faithful teddy bear companion. Using running as a way of coping with his autism, Franck has turned his passion for the trail into a way of promoting the fact that autism is not an obstacle to achieving great performance.
Jonathan Naboulet - France
Jonathan Naboulet, 35 years old, is a mountain and adventure enthusiast from Couserans in Ariège, France. After a rugby accident left him quadriplegic, Jonathan never lost his love for the great outdoors and nature. Determined to regain the unique sensations of the trails, he decided to take on a significant challenge: participating in the OCC of the UTMB with his friends, in a joëlette. Thanks to the association Trail Sans Limite, which he co-founded, Jonathan and his team aim to show that the mountains are accessible to everyone, regardless of obstacles. This collective project, driven by the strength of friendship and a passion for trail running, embodies the resilience and adventurous spirit that have always fueled Jonathan.
Le HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc, ainsi que tous les événements du circuit World Series, encouragent activement la participation des athlètes en situation de handicap. Au-delà de notre volonté de promouvoir la pratique du trail pour tous les publics, nous avons décidé de mettre en place des mesures fortes afin de faciliter l’accès à nos courses aux coureurs en situation de handicap. Ces athlètes peuvent donc accéder à diverses actions qui facilitent leur pratique. Voici les mesures mises en place pour eux :
Des critères d'admissibilité simplifiés :
Les athlètes ayant des handicaps visuels, intellectuels, moteurs ou neurologiques peuvent participer à toutes nos courses. Ils doivent simplement remplir un formulaire pour être reconnu et profiter des différents aménagements.
Des aménagements adaptés :
Des dispositions sont prises au départ de toutes nos courses afin d’éviter les mouvements de foules.
Chaque point de ravitaillement garantit des places assises pour les athlètes en situation de handicap.
Un dossard supplémentaire peut être attribué pour un coureur-guide.
Un processus de qualification simplifié :
Les athlètes en situation de handicap en possession d’une running stone bénéficient d'une qualification directe pour les finales des UTMB World Series – UTMB®, CCC® et OCC.
The HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc, as well as all the events on the World Series circuit, actively encourage the participation of athletes with disabilities. In addition to our desire to promote trail running for all, we have decided to put in place strong measures to facilitate access to our races for runners with disabilities. These athletes can take advantage of a range of measures to facilitate their participation. Here are the measures put in place for them:
Simplified eligibility criteria: Athletes with visual, intellectual, motor or neurological disabilities can take part in all our races. All they have to do is fill in a form to benefit from the various facilities.
Adapted facilities:
- Arrangements are made at the start of all our races to avoid crowds.
- Each feed station guarantees seats for athletes with disabilities.
- An additional bib can be allocated for a runner-guide.
A simplified qualification process: Disabled athletes in possession of a Running Stone qualify directly for the finals of the UTMB World Series - UTMB®, CCC® and OCC. For more details, explore the Inclusion and Diversity page
