Thierry Corbalan swam across the Mediterranean. Nicknamed "the Corsican dolphin", he has covered more than 180 km in a week to prove that disability does not prevent you from achieving great things!
Thierry Corbalan, police officer and high level sportsman with both arms amputated, made a return trip between Corsica and Sardinia in 2010. The man wanted to prove that the handicap does not prevent living exceptional experiences because according to him, "everything is a question of will". Since then, he has multiplied the crossings, each more impressive than the other.
This week, Thierry Corbalan went even further! Nicknamed the "Corsican dolphin", he swam no less than 180 km in 7 days, only equipped with a single fin. He actually left Monday, September 14 from Calvi, Corsica and arrived this Sunday afternoon at Mandelieu-La Napoule in the Alpes-Maritimes. "It is a crossing which, for me, has a very great symbolic value because I will reach the city where I lost my two arms ", explained Thierry Corbalan before his departure.
It was indeed in Mandelieu-La Napoule, near Cannes, that the 61-year-old policeman was electrified by a high voltage line. On his arrival, Daniel Dulta, the one who saved his life thirty-two years ago, welcomed him for a moving reunion.
"As with each of his challenges, Thierry Corbalan's goal is to communicate about the Le Dauphin Corse association, which helps people with illness or disability and to demonstrate that disability does not prevent extraordinary experiences. ", explained his team.
To achieve this feat, Thierry Corbalan swam 10 to 12 hours a day, resting at night on his team's catamaran. A physiotherapist was present on board to relieve him. Upon his arrival, Thierry Corbalan admitted that it was his last challenge as he wanted to honor a promise made to his wife Patricia. "I made a promise, and when I make promises I keep them. I said that would be the last challenge, so this will be the last.", did he declare.