A formidable ambassador for adapted sport, Kevin Lapeyre died after a car accident

Kevin Lapeyre portait fièrement le maillot de son club Athlé Nîmes 30. Midi Libre – K. H.

Le jeune homme qui habitait Bouillargues s'est éteint à 29 ans. Il avait fait de son handicap, un formidable moyen de repousser les limites pour lui-même et pour les autres.

All those who knew him remember first his radiant smile, his unvarnished kindness, his joyful spontaneity. Kevin Lapeyre loved people, whom he always held tightly in his arms, loved life. He passed away late Monday, December 16, at the Carémeau University Hospital in Nîmes, where he had entered Tuesday, December 10, after a tragic car accident. He was 29 years old. A life so short, complicated by the disability that he had been able to overcome to push the limits.

The youngest of four brothers, he was autistic with Asperger's syndrome, a disability that he had made a banner to “remind us that we should not be ashamed of our differences, that everyone has their place in society and that the way we look at disability is changing”, recalls with emotion Céline Coppola, his athletics coach at the Athlé Nîmes 30 club who saw him arrive at the stadium when he was 11 years old.

Athletics is a revelation for him

Because it was athletics that helped him overcome his disability, forget his anxieties and the mockery that followed him as a child. Sport made him a champion but also and above all a generous adult, turned towards others, who wanted to share with other young disabled people everything that sport had brought him. When we met him in 2015, he proudly showed us all the medals and cups won through kilometers swallowed and perseverance and assured us: “Since I started running, my disability is no longer a disability”.

In 2015, Kevin already had a great track record. Midi Libre – K. H.

French champion in cross country but also in discus and shot put in adapted sport, vice-champion of France in the 5,000m in 2020, Kevin Lapeyre also rubbed shoulders with able-bodied athletes in middle-distance races. “I saw him grow and he made me grow. He shook me up in my coaching practice. He evolved so much on the sporting, social and professional levels. He was charismatic and caring. With him, the other athletes trained and helped each other.”

 

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Hundreds of reactions

It was on Kevin's Facebook profile that his loved ones announced his death: “It is with heavy hearts that we share the sad news of Kevin's passing. He left us peacefully on December 16th, surrounded by love and those close to him. Kevin touched so many lives with his kindness, his zest for life and his warmth. He will be deeply missed, but the memories we shared will live on in our hearts forever.”

Immediately, hundreds of people reacted, including these among many others:

Vincent Bouget, departmental councilor: “Beyond his very fine sporting performances, he had taken an important place in the world of adapted sport in Gard. His availability, his kindness and his smile will be greatly missed.”

As Petanque Rousson: “During our meetings, we had the chance to discover a passionate man, whose love for sport was contagious. His kindness, his joy of life and his smile will remain engraved in our memories.”.   Henry Brin, regional councillor: “Sad news Kevin, I hope that wherever you are you will find your place. You will remain for us a great example of enthusiasm”.   Kouider Bouylaghman, KB running: “My Kevin, May your soul rest in peace… You left too soon, leaving a great void. You taught me to love disability, to love my neighbour at first sight and to help without expecting anything in return! Rest in peace I will never forget you, I will miss you so much”. Henry Brin, regional councillor: “Sad news Kevin I hope that wherever you are you will find your place. You will remain for us a beautiful example of enthusiasm”. Kouider Bouylaghman, KB running: “My Kevin, May your soul rest in peace… You left too soon leaving a great void. You taught me to love disability, to love my neighbour at first sight and to help without expecting anything in return! Rest in peace I will never forget you, I will miss you so much”.

“We shared so much joy and emotion”

Philippe Montagu, the president of the Athlé Nîmes 30 club, remembers the kid who arrived in 2007“when we created our adapted sports section. He shared so much joy and emotion with us. As he grew up, he became a beautiful person, he showed that we can go beyond disability.”

Outside the stadium, Kevin Lapeyre loved numbers! He had spent two years on an accounting apprenticeship contract with the Gard Departmental Committee for Adapted Sports and had just started a work-study BTS in accounting with the Artès association.

“He changed the way we look at disability”

He was an incredible ambassador for adapted sports, which is still so little known, “he made us look at disability differently, right up to the national level”, recalls Isabelle Viallat of the Gard Departmental Committee for Adapted Sports.

In 2022, reunion with Jean Castex at the Nîmes market halls with whom he had spent a day as part of the duoday. DR

Chosen to spend a whole day with Prime Minister Jean Castex as part of the duoday, he had pleaded with conviction the cause of disabled people and had bluffed the Prime Minister who had even found him with pleasure a few months later when he was enjoying a little crowd bath at the Nîmes market halls.

His funeral will take place on Friday, December 20, at 10 a.m., at the church of Bouillargues where he lived with his family.

To his mother Nicole, his stepfather Claude, his brothers and his grandparents, Midi Libre sends its most sincere condolences.

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