The French ultra-trail runner accompanied his younger brother Luca, a leg amputee, on the first edition of the Half MDS Wadi Rum. His adventure is chronicled in the film "L'Âme Frère".
15 years separate them and their lives are obviously not the same, despite the family ties that unite them. In the utra trail world, Mathieu Blanchard is now a well-known and recognized figure for his running qualities (as evidenced by his second place in the UTMB two years ago behind legend Kilian Jornet). For his part, Luca, his younger brother, faced tragedy in 2018. Hit by a car while riding his motorcycle, he lost part of his left leg as a result of the impact and now has to live with a prosthesis. Mathieu Blanchard is very busy with his work as a top-level sportsman, and has not always been as present as he would have liked with his little brother. To make up for lost time, he challenged him after his accident to run with him for the last few meters of the UTMB.
One challenge leading to another, Mathieu challenged Luca to take part in the first edition of the Half MDS Wadi Rum. This fully autonomous four-day race features a minimum 80 km route (which can be extended on certain stages, where several distances are offered). Set in the sublime Wadi Rum desert in Jordan, it was there that the two brothers set off on an event that was particularly difficult for Luca, whose prosthesis and carbon blade were not necessarily the best suited to running in the sand.
In the film "L'Âme Frère", Mathieu Blanchard's sponsor Salomon follows the two men throughout their adventure. From preparation to the finish line, this was an XXL challenge for Luca, who was able to count on his brother's support throughout these kilometers in the sand and under the scorching Jordanian sun. "Over there, Luca confronted his limits," explained Mathieu a few days after the adventure. "My brother got his first taste of adventure and its powerful lessons. He dared to believe that such a challenge was possible, whatever his condition. Sharing these precious moments with him was incredibly enriching; we've never felt so close. Away from the front ranks, I was able to experience racing in a different way, at the heart of the pack, and continue to explore this sport that I'm so passionate about."
See this post on Instagram