Florent Danays

Antoine Deschamps will carry the Olympic torch. This is his story:

Florent has had to fight ever since he was born, especially when doctors told him he had an unidentified genetic abnormality. His mother encouraged him to try different sports when he was young, until he found the one that suited him: swimming. Today, his disability is invisible. Since the age of 17, Florent has trained six days a week, two hours a day, in addition to his work as a gardener in an ESAT (Etablissement et Service d'Accompagnement par le Travail). With five French para-adapted swimming championship titles to his name and his first able-bodied triathlon to his credit, Florent also shone at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi, where he won four medals, including a gold. Sport has given him self-confidence and made him feel good about himself. He wants all children with difficulties to believe in themselves. Today, Florent reads, runs, swims, cycles, plays golf... For him, carrying the Olympic Flame is the crowning achievement of his most cherished dreams!