Fabien Fayel, the firefighter running for sick children

With 40 countries represented, 50 different sports and the European Championships taking place in Vigo, some athletes might feel daunted by such a major event. Not Fabien Fayel, who will line up at 46 with a calm, measured approach. Supporting sick children is no coincidence for this father of two. His family history led him to support the fight against childhood disease. Running for charities is his way of honouring the memory of his disabled older sister, who died as a result of her disability.

I’m proud to be able to pay tribute to her in this way.

Before taking up running, Fabien supported the same cause through sport, but in a different discipline: indoor rowing. And he was very successful, winning two world titles, over 500 and 2,000 metres, at the 2017 World Police and Fire Games in Los Angeles. Even then, the athlete raised €5,000 for Lisa Forever, a charity dedicated to fighting cancer in children and teenagers. Before becoming a formidable runner, Fabien Fayel was a top-level rower, holding five world records and six French records, notably over ultra-distance formats such as 100 km and 24 hours.

Running for sick children

After his rowing years and treatment for ankle ligament problems, Fabien Fayel returned to running with one goal still in mind: “I thought that rather than doing sport for nothing, I might as well put it to work for others instead of just running for the sake of it.”

After securing a place in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Marathon Pour Tous, he once again looked for a way to use the race to help children. He raised around €5,000, which paid for an adaptive wheelchair for the children’s hospital in Margency. Already helping people every day through his job, Fabien Fayel decided to keep supporting sick children this year.

I wanted to go back and compete at the world championships in Australia next year, but it’s a long way to go and a major expense, so I switched my focus to the European Championships in Vigo this year.

This time, he will run for Les jumeaux costauds. The race and the fundraising campaign will have a particular significance because the two children being supported, who have cerebral disabilities, are the sons of a firefighter who used to work with Fabien Fayel. The aim is to pay for two adaptive wheelchairs, costing around €4,000. The rest of the money raised will go to Kids and Life.

Adapting the training

Three months of preparation for a half marathon is already a serious commitment. For a professional firefighter, it becomes a real challenge. “It can be complicated,” Fabien Fayel admits. His plan is nevertheless well established: two weeks at 90 to 100 km, followed by a lighter week at 70 km, then the cycle starts again. The final two weeks are devoted to tapering, with 70% and then 50% of his usual volume. His coach, Bruno Placzek, oversees the whole process at his athletics club, ACSAM (Margency Club Athlé), where he is a registered member.

But the calendar is not everything, and work always has the final say. “An elite athlete can spend the whole day training and recovering. I have to juggle training, fatigue and whatever may happen at work.” This summer, for example, he was called out to fight the Fontainebleau wildfires. In situations like that, he has to skip some sessions, but there is no question of feeling guilty about it: “You have to listen to your body to avoid injury. I can cut back the volume depending on how tired I am.”

Fortunately, he has strong support at home: “My partner and children do the same sport as I do, so they understand.” And the next generation is clearly ready to take over. His daughter Manon, 17, holds a French mile record and has run 5 km in 18:30. His son Hugo, 15, a French UNSS cross-country runner-up, has gone as fast as 16:24 over the same distance.

A podium in his sights

At 46, Fabien Fayel races in the M2 age group (45 to 49), with a half-marathon PB of 1:18. His goal is clear: “To finish high up the standings, maybe even make the podium.” He is targeting the best possible result, including overall, after finishing fourth in his age group and eighth overall at this year’s French Firefighters Championships. A personal best would be a welcome bonus, but he remains cautious: “I haven’t checked out the course yet, so for now I don’t have any information about the elevation gain.”

A firefighter by profession and a runner by passion, Fabien Fayel has found another way to come to people’s aid, even with a race bib pinned to his chest.