TNN ambassador Romain Gioux continues to show athletic prowess

05 October 2021

Team Novo Nordisk ambassador, Romain Gioux continues to show what’s possible with diabetes while competing in IRONMAN 70.3 events in Europe.

The Frenchman took part in IRONMAN 70.3 Vichy where an impressive 4th place in his age group earned him a qualifying slot to the World Championships in St George, Utah next year.

Three weeks later he impressed even further by winning his age group in IRONMAN 70.3 Nice.

“Nice was a bonus because the qualification for World championships was already done,” Gioux said. “I arrived there in good shape, without pressure and everything went well.

“The sea swim went very well even though this is my weak point. I came out of the water with an average of 1min40 per 100m. The bike part went smoothly and was well managed. My favorite part, the run, was perfectly managed and kept a linear pace till the end of the race, without any moment of weakness which is a big positive when compared to the majority of competitors. I finished 27th out of 1700 competitors overall, 4th overall in all age groups and I won my age group.”

Gioux is a former professional cyclist with Team Novo Nordisk. At thirty, he was working in the corporate world as a Communications Manager. His life changed forever when TNN Co-founder and CEO Phil Southerland called him offering him a professional contract.

He says he achieved the dream of every cyclist, to race professionally and is grateful for it. Some of his highlights include being in a breakaway during a mountainous stage of Tirreno Adriatico and rubbing shoulders with big-name riders in the Tour of California.  

An inner ear problem, unfortunately, put an end to his cycling career sooner than he would have hoped. The 35-year-old said despite retirement, he remains active as it makes the management of diabetes so much easier.

“Even when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in hospital, my first question to the doctor was ‘can I continue to do sport?’ For me, it’s key to my life.”

“The recent results are important because I am a competitor but the most important thing for me is to show that despite living with type 1 diabetes, you have to believe in your dreams, and go for it. I am an example that also with diabetes it is possible to do wonderful things.”

Making an impact on the diabetes community is important to Gioux as people reach out to him for advice daily. 

“A  40-year-old guy who was diagnosed a few months ago reached out to me. He was at a complete loss as he thought he would have to stop sport. Then he came across my social media profiles. Since then, he has started sports again. He is less afraid because he sees that it is possible. Seeing the impact that sharing my experience with type 1 has on other people is extremely inspiring to me.”

share this story

related stories