High-level adaptive athlete and coach Simon Farre is the standard-bearer for handicrossfit in France.
On June 20, 2024, the Olympic flame made a stopover in Valence, a city located in the Drôme department in southeastern France. At around 7 p.m., a man in a wheelchair, dressed all in white, took hold of the flame.
This man is Simon Farre, former top-level wheelchair basketball player and world number 1 in CrossFit® in his Adaptive category. A great advocate of handisport, and standard-bearer for handicrossfit in France. In the midst of his preparations for the Adaptive CrossFit® Games, Simon kindly granted us a long interview.
In this first part, he talks about his discovery of CrossFit®, his life as an athlete and coach, and his vision of disabled sport.
Hustle Up: How did you discover CrossFit®? Simon Farre: A friend who had just discovered CrossFit® called me to say I should try this sport. It was the end of the handisport basketball season, and I thought it would be a great way to get back into shape for the new basketball season. So I pushed open the door of CrossFit® Châlon-sur-Saône and was greeted by Magali Rochay. I asked her if I could give it a try and if I was going to train alone or in a group. Her answer was: "With everyone, CrossFit® is an inclusive sport. I don't know anything about disability, but we'll learn to adapt together". The very next day I did a trial session and signed up straight away, telling myself that I'd stop when the basketball season resumed. It didn't work out that way, because when the basketball season resumed, I asked for an unlimited membership.
In the summer of 2019, I told myself I was going to play my last season of basketball and then devote myself solely to CrossFit®. In the end, the health crisis put an end to my basketball career sooner than expected. From then on I had a new goal, a dream: to turn my passion for CrossFit® into my profession. So, after confinement, I went back to school to take a BPJEPS diploma. Reactions were mixed: some people thought I was crazy, while others were extremely supportive. I know I made the right choice, because today I'm fulfilled both as a coach and as an athlete. Does CrossFit® give you something more than basketball? I played handisport basketball at a high level for 18 years, including 6 in the French team. It was a wonderful period in my life, but in CrossFit®, I'm back to surpassing myself. It's an individual sport where I can't hide behind the performance of other players like in basketball, but there's still a team spirit with this community dimension.
I'm proud to show that despite a disability, it's possible to do so much. Thanks to CrossFit®, I've improved my physical condition and that helps me in everyday life. As a coach, I'm pleased when athletes tell me that their daily lives have improved, or that they're reaching their performance goals in their reference sports thanks to the CrossFit® method.
My proudest moment as a coach was when an athlete told me he'd been able to cycle 30 km with his children, something he'd never imagined doing since his femoral amputation. The advantage of CrossFit is that the movements are functional and constantly varied, so there's no possibility of getting bored, and there are repercussions in everyday life.
And it allows you to show that despite your handicap you can do the same things as the able-bodied? As an athlete, I like the idea of breaking down barriers and showing that an Adaptive athlete can achieve performances just as impressive as an able-bodied athlete. As a coach, I want to prove that despite my wheelchair, I can train able-bodied athletes and thus change the way disability is portrayed.
When I made my career change, there were no wheelchair physical trainers. That was a first. I had to fight twice as hard as an able-bodied person to prove that it was possible, because in France, as soon as you break out of the traditional pattern, there are fears and limitations. In any case, I hope I've opened the way for other people who want to make their dreams come true, whether they're disabled or not.
What's your view of adaptive sport in France, and of CrossFit® Adaptive in particular? Sport for all is my leitmotiv, and there's still a lot to be done to democratize it. The slogan of my company Handifit Coaching is "the only handicap that exists is not believing in yourself". It's often forgotten that CrossFit® is meant to be an inclusive sport, and CrossFit gyms shouldn't even have to ask themselves about integrating members, whether they have a disability or not. Coaches are there to adapt to all athletes. In fact, I'm proposing an Adaptive Life training course to help coaches and owners understand the specificities of different disability categories, so that they can mix disabled and non-disabled people in their training sessions. That's what inclusion is all about, and in my opinion it's the best way of changing mentalities. Can you tell me the story of your Handifit association? The association was born following my first qualification for a competition in the USA, the Wodapalooza. As CrossFit® is not a federation, it's up to the athletes to find funding for their competitions. Today, it's easier to get sponsored when you're an influencer than when you're an Adaptive or Master athlete who performs well. With this in mind, we decided to set up this association with some friends to offer sponsorship. Companies can make a donation to support Adaptive athletes who are members of the association. I'd like to thank all those who help us. I'm also proposing an awareness day for companies on the theme of disability in the workplace and in sport. What do you say to someone who's hesitating about CrossFit® Adaptive? The answer is simple: DO IT! CrossFit® isn't just a sport for competitors. Anyone can do it. When you try it, you'll discover the benefits of the sport, meet a new family and make new friends. You'll improve your physical condition and your everyday life. You'll realize that you're capable of doing things you never thought you could. You'll overcome your limiting beliefs.