Five years ago, Boris Desault's life took a turn when he was diagnosed with an extremely rare cancer, with only three cases per year in France. After intensive medical care and grueling chemotherapy sessions, he is now in remission and expects to be fully cured within five years.
A sportsman since his early years, Boris Desault grew up in the world of martial arts, his father, André Desault, being the president of the association 'Les Dragons de la récré' and a pioneer in the field with a 50-year career. 'I was literally born above a dojo,' he laughs, specifying it was located directly beneath their family kitchen.
After starting with combat sports and playing American football, Boris Desault found significant support in sports upon leaving the hospital. He resumed training two months later and, eight months after that, competed in the French championships in the KO category, a discipline similar to MMA but practiced in a kimono. This year, he became the French champion, stating, 'Sport taught me never to give up.'
A year after his own illness began, Boris Desault learned that his mother had breast cancer. It was then that he felt the need to get involved in the associative sector. He discovered the association 'Play Again' on social media and contacted its founder, Guillaume Delamarre, a former professional tennis player also in remission from cancer. Following an immediate response, Boris Desault became an ambassador for combat sports within the association.
Founded in 2022, 'Play Again' aims to secure financial support to enable sick or disabled athletes to pursue their projects, based on the premise that physical activity helps better tolerate medical treatments, aids in rebuilding oneself, and increases recovery chances. The association organizes various events, including an auction where Cyrille Diabaté, a renowned MMA fighter, donated the mouthguard from his first fight. Boris Desault wears a jersey with the association's logo during his own fights, traveling across France to raise its profile.
Boris Desault has many projects in mind, aiming to win both the Cup and the French Championship in his discipline, join the national team, and participate in the World Championships. We wish him great success in his endeavors.
