Thomas Sorel is hemiplegic, “a partial hemiplegia on the right side”. Childbirth accident. He made up his mind a long time ago. Ever since, in fact. “As a kid, in the schoolyard, I played football with the others. Thomas has always tried to do “like the others”. With the awareness, of course, of its physical limits.
“Question of Will”
When he was born, the forceps pressed on the left side of his skull. “The doctor’s first words to my parents were that I would be a vegetable, that everything would have to be done for me. My parents pushed me to do the opposite. Afterwards, it’s a question of will…” The simple gestures for everyone that he too got down to? “Doing my laces, putting on my trouser buttons… Well, the shirts, I’ve given up! Thomas bursts out laughing. Often, moreover, he lets out a frank laugh, sincerely joyful and communicative.
Out of the laces and buttons, nothing seems impossible to him. Or almost. “As a teenager, I wanted to play football! There, I was made to understand that it might be a bit complicated. ” Complicated ? “At school, I was with my friends, during football games, so for me, it was playable. »
“It’s fun”
Thomas Sorel often said to himself that it was “playable”. “Since I was born, when I want to do something that I normally can’t do, I always find a way. There is always a way! Means of working, earning a living, for example. Thomas has been a facilitator with children, in schools, summer camps. Way to discover the world, too. “Four years ago, I made a three-month trip to Colombia, on foot. His first great adventure.
Since I was born, when I want to do something, I always find a way
One challenge calling for another, this native of Reims has put a new idea in his head. A little over two years ago, he bought an electrically assisted tricycle, fitted out a long trailer and transformed it into a shelter. And he hit the road, with the primary objective of traveling through Europe. “The tricycle, I discovered that when I was 23 years old. Before, I had to walk or take the bus, but I was tired of missing the bus. Laughter again. “Obviously, a real bike, with two wheels, there, even if I want to, I can’t. While researching, I discovered these tricycles for adults. »
“Like a drug”
Discovering the sensations of moving more quickly, yes, but from there to embark on stages of several tens of kilometres… “Playable”, Thomas Sorel once again said to himself. “I started with short trips, during the summer holidays. It has become a “drug”. The destinations have further moved away from Lyon where he lives between two journeys.
In January, Thomas Sorel took the plunge. The Royannais Ismaël Guilliorit introduced him to bodyboarding.
Vaguehope
His first “European” raid came up against the Covid. After nine months and 3,000 kilometers across France, he returned in March 2020, already thinking of leaving. And this time, his route took him notably to Royan. Thomas came to greet Ismaël Guilliorit there last year. The two men had become acquainted on the networks, through the work of bringing together able-bodied and disabled people that the Vagdespoir association has been carrying out for nearly fifteen years.
” Meet people “
Royan pleased Thomas, Thomas pleased Ishmael and vice versa. So, in January, Thomas came back and since everything is “playable”, Ishmael stuck him on a boogie board. ” I liked ! “Thomas says like a cry from the heart. And since the rear wheel of his tricycle is acting up, the 30-year-old has even been docked on the Côte de Beauté for three weeks.
So, one challenge calling for yet another, Thomas took up that of testing the sand yacht. More thrills, more emotions, more encounters. That he tells, that he shares on his networks (1), but with parsimony. Because Thomas Sorel, at 36, wants first of all to “take his time”, not to suffer from the crazy pace of modern life. “I want to live the adventure, watch the landscapes I cross, meet people rather than being glued to my phone every moment to report. “Admirable, in the state of mind and in the physical prowess. “Oh, I often tell people, if I can do it, anyone can do it. You just have to want it…”