Telethon: “As much strength, it inspires”, the moving meeting between Marius, a rugby fan deprived of the use of his legs, and Antoine Dupont

Marius, 4 and a half years old, made one of his many childhood dreams come true by meeting his lover, the Toulouse native, player of the XV of France, Antoine Dupont.

An orphan disease

The little boy suffers from an orphan disease, a rare form of glycogenosis, which affects his muscles and deprives him of the use of his legs. “He was diagnosed at the age of two and a half after a genetic test,” explains his mother, reports France info. “It is so rare that there is no research in France on this disease.”

Marius, a rugby enthusiast

Marius dreams of playing rugby. He is a fan of the oval ball and of players playing for clubs and in the tricolor jersey. Invited by the French XV, the little boy was able to attend player training and meet one-on-one with one of his heroes, Antoine Dupont, the captain of the Blues and Olympic champion this summer in rugby sevens.

“There he is, the champion, you’re happy,” says the player to Marius, on the edge of the field accompanied by his parents. Marius's illness in no way alters his love for ovals. The boy was also called upon by Captain Dupont. As a true enthusiast, Marius knows the players and does not hesitate to list them out loud.

“There is a bit of frustration because Marius always said he wanted to be a rugby player. He often says 'Why can't I walk, why can't I play rugby?' A frustration which was able to be released when he was able to see a wheelchair rugby match,” said his mother.

“I’ve loved rugby since I was a baby,” Marius tells Antoine Dupont.

“I already have crampons”

The training was just the appetizer for this dream day for the little boy. Because, behind, he had the privilege of discovering the residence of the French team. And to enter Antoine Dupont's room. The French captain also wanted to offer his pair of crampons of the day to his fan who had a funny response which did not fail to make the Toulouse player smile. “I already have crampons!”

On the other hand, he didn't say no to the hot chocolate on offer. Marius, too, had prepared a gift, a magnificent drawing of his idol with his Olympic gold medal. A medal that the little boy had the right to see and touch in the flesh. “It’s still heavy…”

“It's beautiful, at that age, there is already this passion for sport, rugby, to see how much it can inspire him, give him strength. Even us, we are inspired to see a little boy with so much mind and strength.”