Yannick THOMAS BILLOT & Nicolas BRELINSKY (FRA)

Once is not custom: this portrait is a double portrait, since we are going to talk about Yannick THOMAS BILLOT and Nicolas BRELINSKY, "a shock pair who arrives on this 37th MARATHON DES SABLES motivated as never before" as they define themselves- same. To recognize them, it's easy: "So we are Nicolas 'the tall blond' (without black shoes...) and Yannick the little dark-haired. »

French, in their early forties, they are both gendarmes, and have known each other for ten years. Together, they have already experienced great sporting challenges – 100 km of Millau, Ironman… And the 35th edition of the MARATHON DES SABLES in 2021, a very special edition which they, like almost half of the peloton, were unable to to end. “We had to put on the indicator on the long stage, a very difficult decision after so much effort and personal sacrifice. We couldn't do more, sick since the day before like many other competitors. »

So we had to digest this abandonment, a difficult process which will probably end at the end of next April: “We are leaving with enormous motivation and a desire to finish what we started in 2021. Despite this sporting failure, we experienced a amazing adventure and met great people. “And then of course, there was the shock of the disappearance of Pierre, who died on this 35th edition: “Pierre was in our tent, he left a huge void. We also come back for him, his family, his children. »

In addition to these sporting and human motivations, the shock duo is committed to defending two associations: "For many years we have represented the Blue Stars association, which helps orphans in the gendarmerie, and recently the Gend 'heart that helps children with heart disease. »

Gendarmes, trailers, and with a big heart! “We clearly left a small part of ourselves in 2021 in the desert, and we come back with a smile to go on an adventure and get this medal. »