On 25 June, Tony Moggio arrived in Sète after an extraordinary journey of over 700 kilometres by handbike. Having set off from Royan thirteen days earlier, the former rugby player crossed much of south-western France by following the Canal des Deux Mers, thereby achieving a feat never before accomplished by a quadriplegic. Behind this extraordinary adventure lies much more than just a sporting achievement: it is a story of resilience, of pushing one’s limits and of inspiring others.
Originally from Albi, Tony Moggio, a former rugby player, saw his life turned upside down following a serious accident on the pitch. Although left quadriplegic, he refused to give up on action, movement and ambitious projects. Over the years, he has turned his personal experience into a driving force to inspire others, giving numerous talks and launching initiatives centred on disability, motivation and the ability to rebuild one’s life after adversity.
With his challenge, dubbed ‘À Force de Bras’, he wanted to go even further. His aim was clear: to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean using only the strength of his arms. It was an intense physical adventure, spanning nearly two weeks, with daily stages lasting several hours along the roads and paths running alongside the canal. Each day was a real battle against fatigue, muscle pain, the weather and logistical setbacks.
But beyond the sporting feat, Tony Moggio’s main aim is to convey a message. Through this crossing, he is seeking to raise public awareness of disability whilst showing that it is possible to keep moving forward despite the obstacles. His journey has become a symbol of mental endurance and determination.
This adventure has also taken on an audiovisual dimension thanks to the involvement of students from Cinécréatis Bordeaux. Several young videographers were enlisted to document the challenge and produce various video formats. For these future film and audiovisual professionals, the project represents a hands-on immersion in a particularly powerful human experience.
Among them, Clara Fabre and Lucie Thomas began their first shoots back in April in Albi, during one of Tony Moggio’s training sessions. This initial meeting marked the start of a close collaboration between the athlete and the students. They very quickly realised that they were going to be part of a unique project, one that was both technically demanding and deeply human.
Tony Moggio was clear about the visual concepts he had in mind, whilst allowing the film crew a great deal of creative freedom. This trust enabled the students to experiment with different framing techniques and ways of portraying not only the physical exertion but also the emotions surrounding the challenge.
Filming conditions were at times unusual. To follow the athlete during her training sessions, the team had to be resourceful. In particular, some sequences were filmed from the back of a van travelling at low speed, with the doors open, in order to capture the handbike’s movements and the intensity of the effort as closely as possible. It was an improvised but effective approach, which demonstrated the collective commitment to the project.
As filming progressed, the students sought to go beyond simply capturing the sport. They wanted to shine a light on the man behind the challenge. On-camera interviews were conducted with Tony Moggio, as well as with his family and friends. These conversations allowed them to explore more personal topics: his daily life, the consequences of his accident, how he overcomes difficulties, and the deep-seated motivations that drove him to undertake such a journey.
This more intimate approach added another dimension to the documentary in the making. The aim was no longer simply to showcase a physical feat, but also to tell the story of personal and family recovery. The footage focused as much on the sporting endeavour as on moments of doubt, periods of fatigue and the support provided by the athlete’s family and friends throughout the adventure.
For the students at Cinécréatis Bordeaux, this experience marked an important stage in their training. By taking part in a real-world project, with concrete technical, emotional and logistical challenges, they were able to grapple with the realities on the ground. Far removed from traditional academic exercises, this film shoot enabled them to develop their artistic vision whilst giving meaning to their work.
The arrival in Sète on 25 June marked the culmination of several months of preparation and thirteen days of intense effort. Greeted with great emotion, Tony Moggio completed his challenge after spending a total of more than sixty hours on a handbike. A symbolic achievement that once again confirms his determination to turn every obstacle into a driving force for action.
Thanks to the work of the students involved in the project, this adventure did not end at the finish line. The images captured throughout the journey will continue to bring this human and sporting challenge to life, allowing the public to discover the story of a man who has chosen to push back the limits imposed by his disability and to make his journey a source of inspiration for others.
