Lys GIRARD FIALON (D169-FRA)

Each year, a few young people under the age of 18 participate in the MARATHON DES SABLES, with the agreement of their parents and the presence of a loved one at the event. For its 37th edition, the MDS will thus welcome the Frenchwoman Lys GIRARD-FIALON, 16, the youngest participant in 2023. Lys is in her first year in a Toulouse high school and does not yet know what she is destined for in life. What is certain is that she is a young girl with a passion – for sport, but also for music and especially the piano.

His parents, very sporty, introduced Lys to sport from an early age: mountain, skiing, hiking... "I did athletics, swimming and gymnastics, and now I do artistic rollerblading. in competition and running as well as skiing in winter. Grégory, Lys' father, took part in the MARATHON DES SABLES in 2021, and came back with stars in his eyes. He told her about his experience, and asked her to participate. “I hesitated because it is a long and difficult race. But I quickly accepted because the adventure side as well as the fact of discovering the desert pleased me a lot. Moreover, it is a goal and a challenge to achieve together with my father. »

So bank! This challenge that they will carry out together promises to be intense and to leave memories for life, as evidenced each year by the family duos, or trios, and even more – this year a Belgian family of five will be present. “Experiencing an adventure like this will bring us a lot closer and this race will be unforgettable! “If his family is not surprised by his enthusiasm, his less close entourage asks questions:” People are sometimes surprised or think it impossible. »

But with a brave heart, nothing is impossible! So Lys trains, mostly on weekends, running, hiking and skiing. His main fear? The heat: “I know that in 2021 the temperatures were extreme, I hope that will not be the case because the heat scares me a little. I'm also apprehensive about the fourth stage because it's the longest and it comes after three days of racing already. A duo to follow closely and which will undoubtedly offer us as many emotions as Frédéric DE LA NOUVELLE and his daughter Cécile last year.