Géraud Paillot, the exoskeleton marathoner: “Your finish time shouldn’t decide who gets invited to the party”

Before we hear him speak, let’s pause for a moment and watch Géraud Paillot, a determined figure moving forward. The line between effort and poetry has almost disappeared. Wearing an exoskeleton named “Kyogo”, short for “Keep On Going”, he isn’t simply “walking”; step by step, he is redefining what is possible. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2004, the 55-year-old Breton recently completed another remarkable challenge by finishing the Mont-Saint-Michel Solidarity Marathon in his exoskeleton. Nine hours of walking later, he crossed the line with pride. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease that attacks the nervous system and can make walking, coordination and vision more difficult. It affects everyone differently, and although there is no cure, treatments can help people manage everyday life. As the founder of the Aventure Hustive association, Géraud Paillot combines extreme sport with activism, turning his challenges, including kayaking from Paris to Marseille, back-to-back Ironman races and swimming in icy water, into messages of hope. He spoke to Marathons.com openly and without filters, sharing his vision of sport, inclusion and pushing beyond your limits.

What made you want to run in an exoskeleton?

Whenever I take on a new challenge, people tell me, “That’s impossible.” But it doesn’t hold me back. Quite the opposite: it pushes me to find solutions, test my limits and show that technology can expand what is possible. To me, it’s not just a tool. It’s a way to challenge myself and send a message about inclusion in sport.

Mental preparation seems to be central to your races. Why is that?

Without mental preparation, I couldn’t finish a marathon in an exoskeleton. Every kilometre requires endurance, but above all, extraordinary mental control. You have to trust yourself, anticipate difficulties and stay focused on your sensations, your body and your breathing. It’s a daily learning process that goes well beyond sport.

Technology becomes a driver of inclusion, not just a medical tool.

How has the exoskeleton changed the way you see sport and everyday life?

It gives back freedoms we tend to take for granted: walking, running, standing alongside other people and sharing moments with them. All of that becomes precious. In sport, it allows you to stay active, take part and experience something collectively. In everyday life, it builds confidence and independence. Technology becomes a driver of inclusion, not just a medical tool.

You talk about “handiwashing” and ticking boxes. What do you mean?

“Handiwashing” is when people pretend to be inclusive. They put a few disabled athletes on the sidelines for PR or appearances without thinking about genuine inclusion. Real inclusion means running on the same course, sharing the effort and being seen as a full participant rather than a symbol.

What obstacles have you faced with race organisers?

Many refuse out of fear or a lack of imagination. I’ve been offered separate races “for disabled athletes” when my goal was to run alongside everyone else. Too often, organisers make minimal concessions without thinking about the wider community. The real question should be: how can we include every participant on the same course?

In your view, how should an inclusive marathon be designed from the outset?

The course and support systems need to be designed around different disabilities, without trying to make absolutely everything accessible at any cost. For example, exoskeleton users, wheelchair users and blind runners should be able to take part while everyone’s safety and enjoyment are protected. Inclusion isn’t about creating a separate category.

Technology will keep opening up new horizons, making it possible to run in the mountains and take on trails while staying safe and together.

Which technological innovations could transform inclusion in sport?

Exoskeletons, joëlettes, guidance tools for blind runners… All of these make it possible to share courses that would normally be inaccessible. Technology will keep opening up new horizons, making it possible to run in the mountains and take on trails while staying safe and together. It’s a tool for breaking down physical and mental barriers.

What do you think of the time cut-offs imposed by many marathons?

They exclude participants who could finish at a slower pace. I dream of a marathon where everyone has eight or nine hours to reach the finish, and where crossing the line is a celebration for everyone. Inclusion also means allowing people to set their own pace and respecting every ability. Your finish time shouldn’t decide who gets invited to the party.

How do you incorporate multisensory imagery into your training?

I use all five senses, visual, auditory, kinaesthetic, olfactory and gustatory, to work on my perception of my stride and my bodily sensations. For example, I can reduce the time my foot spends in contact with the ground to protect my knees, rather than relying solely on what I see. It’s a technique that develops mental and physical resources I didn’t know I had.

What is the difference between the mental preparation of an able-bodied athlete and that of an athlete with a disability?

It’s essential for everyone. But people with disabilities have the advantage of having to develop resources and creativity to overcome constraints. They get used to challenging themselves, anticipating problems and managing the unexpected. That builds a strong, adaptable mindset, which becomes an asset in competition and in life.

How does sport influence the people around you and your everyday life?

The people around you play an essential role, and they also need time to recharge, exercise and clear their heads. For me, running remains a simple, universal activity: all you need is a pair of trainers. Even half an hour every morning helps maintain mental balance and physical readiness. Sport becomes a way to bring families and communities together.

You can’t create genuine inclusion if every federation stays in its own silo.

What message would you like to send to clubs and federations?

Stop working in silos. One federation, universal licences and clear classifications. Inclusion starts with simplifying the administrative rules, giving athletes a choice and recognising their abilities, whatever their disability or pace. You can’t create genuine inclusion if every federation stays in its own silo.

What place should diversity and gender identity have in inclusive sport?

They need to be fully taken into account. Inclusion isn’t only about disability. LGBT, non-binary and transgender people should all be able to choose their category, ranking or pace. It’s a matter of respect, equality and treating everyone as they belong in sport. Every participant deserves to be seen and heard.

If you could organise the perfect marathon, what would it look like?

It would be accessible to as many people with disabilities as possible, open to every pace and built around flexible cut-offs. Participants could choose to run in the “traditional” format or use an exoskeleton, wheelchair or joëlette. The classification system could be flexible, but the celebration would remain collective. The idea is to include everyone on the same course, sharing the experience for real.

What have your experiences taught you, and what final message would you like to share?

Inclusion is possible. Technology can open paths that were once closed. But above all, the key is the community: able-bodied and disabled athletes, each with their own strengths and limitations, together on the same course. Sport then becomes a force for respect, personal growth and connection. If I can show that we can go further, then anyone can give themselves permission to dream and take part.