Estelle Gonzalez

Estelle Gonzalez will carry the Olympic Torch. Here’s her story:

Estelle was adopted when she was 2, and ever since childhood she has been keen to show that people with disabilities are full members of society. Educated in a ULIS (Local School Inclusion Unit) class, she has benefited from the support of the “GEIST 21” association, whose mission is to support people with Down's syndrome and bring them together. In her professional life, Estelle has obtained a diploma from the AFPA (National Agency for Adult Vocational Training) and has completed several work placements in a mainstream environment, experiences that she occasionally struggled with but which helped her to develop in a safe space.

Estelle found fulfilment in sport from an early age, whether through swimming, tennis or gymnastics, her favourite physical activity. The “ATHOM” association has supported her in her quest for personal fulfilment, helping her to make friends and even meet her partner. Thanks to ATHOM and through the support of her family, Estelle has been able to become more independent, progress in her activities and expand her knowledge. She wants to show that through sport, anyone can achieve greatness, however different they might be. When it comes to sport, it is not your differences that count; it’s your ability to compete against others. Estelle believes it is all about willpower. She is proud of her achievements, but recognises that none of it would have been possible without the support of the associations, organisations and services that strive to turn difference into beauty, rather than seeing it as an obstacle.