Philippe CROISON is a French Autor, Adventurer, Actor, and inspirational Coach for Organisations and People.
Topics : Optimism, Resilience, Strong team working, Transcendence, Climate, Advocate for LowCarbon Innovations
He is the first quadruple amputee to swim across the English Channel and to run the Rally Dakar. His amputations were required due to a severe electric shock accident. During his recuperation in the hospital, he saw a television programme about a female channel-swimmer, who Croizon said inspired him. He began a regimen of swimming, training for over five hours per day with the Maritime Gendarmerie, the French marine police, in the sea near La Rochelle.
He wrote a book entitled “J'ai décidé de vivre” (I Decided to Live), using a speech-to-text computer system. He also made a parachute jump.
On Saturday, 18 September 2010, at the age of 42, he swam across the English Channel in less than 14 hours. He set off from Folkestone at 06:45, arriving at Cap Gris Nez at 20:13, a distance of 21 miles (34 km). After the crossing, he reported that he had felt pain, but was confident that he would finish.
In April 2012, Philippe announced a new project: Intercontinental Straits Swimming Challenge, to swim four straits separating five continents, in which he would be accompanied by long-distance swimmer Arnaud Chassery. The planned trips included Oceania to Asia, across the Red Sea (linking Asia and Africa), the Straits of Gibraltar (linking Africa and Europe), and the Bering Strait (linking Asia and America). Philippe's training regimens included temperature conditioning for the below 40-degree (F) water by swimming in ice-melt mountain lake water, and ice water baths.
Dakar: Philippe also participated in the 2017 Dakar Rally with a modified buggy, finishing in 48th place out of 317 starters.
To keep the inspiration and to share it, Philippe is engaged in new projects for the next Dakar 2022 by an hydrogen vehicule, to promote LowCarbon Tech, and a special one within the NewSpace Exploration !
Philippe’s mantra, beyond our own limits: “Everything is possible”.
