How should I wear shoes after an amputation?
Discover the inspiring story of Romain Abellan , an amputee footballer and entrepreneur, who transformed his disability into a strength.
In this podcast, he shares his daily challenges, his choices of adapted shoes, and his exceptional journey within the French amputee football team.
A lesson in life and resilience not to be missed!
Listen to the podcast:
Renaud - GDC : Hello everyone, in the world of sport and entrepreneurship, some stories transcend ordinary challenges.
Today, I have the privilege of interviewing a long-time friend, Romain Abellan , an amputee football player , manager of a carpentry company in Béziers and guest on the set of TPMP with Cyril Hanouna.
His exceptional journey is a source of inspiration for all those who believe in the power of resilience and passion.
First question Romain, well, first of all, are you okay?
Romain ABELLAN : I'm doing very well, I'm in great shape today.
Renaud - GDC : So, can you tell us about your journey before your amputation? Both in terms of sports and your professional life. Tell us a little about your life in short.
Romain ABELLAN : Hello everyone, my name is Romain Abellan, I am currently 36 years old and I am from Béziers. I was born in Béziers and I completed my sporting career here as a player, at ASBéziers.
Then, at the age of 15, I went to a football training center in Marseille to try and make a career as a footballer. Unfortunately, I didn't succeed. So I returned to the Béziers region and worked with my father in the family carpentry business.
Then, alongside that, I took on a few odd jobs selling popcorn, delivering pizzas... Then I went out on my own and started a bar in Béziers, which I ran for about a year and had a blast. After that, I moved on to a nightclub.
After that I had a snack bar, then a restaurant, so I did quite a lot of things in my life before my amputation.
After that I decided to take over my father's carpentry business, it was only 3 months before I decided to lose my leg.
Renaud - GDC : After your amputation, what were the main challenges you had to overcome in your daily and professional life?
Romain ABELLAN : So as I said just before, I decided on my amputation 3 months after taking over the family business, so it was a big question of whether I should keep it or not given what was going to happen to me.
I set myself a goal: to continue with my idea, developing the family business. At that time, I hadn't considered the sporting aspect because I didn't yet know about football for amputees. So I continued my routine from before my amputation, visiting clients on crutches with my father and all that.
And after my amputation. So, I immediately invested in the family business and built a new warehouse in Villeneuve Lès Béziers.
On the sporting front, my goal was to play in the Amputee Football World Cup, which took place six months after I left the hospital, and I managed to do that. Following that, I went on to play in the Nations League, the Champions League, and I finally succeeded in setting up the family business, a new warehouse, and a house where I currently live in Villeneuve-lès-Béziers.
Renaud - GDC : And what really motivated you to return to football after your amputation?
Romain ABELLAN : Actually, I lost my leg after an operation to continue playing football on two legs, so I lost it in quotes to play football.
I told myself that just because I lost her doesn't mean I can't continue playing football.
I searched online and found this wonderful sport: amputee football. My motivation is that football is my whole life. I've been playing football ever since I could walk.
For me, that's all I knew how to do, so it was really an obligation to perform well in that sport and to practice that sport.
Renaud - GDC : OK, very clear. What specific difficulties do you encounter in finding shoes adapted to your prosthesis and your needs as an amputee?
Romain ABELLAN : The difficulty, for me, lies with the insoles. Each shoe has a different type of insole, whether they have memory foam or not.
I know that I have a particularity, which is that I don't necessarily like memory foam insoles.
I like standard insoles, and we don't buy shoes as if we were able-bodied; we actually try them on, walk in them, and see if they trigger any particular pain or not, and if they don't hinder our walking, because adjusting a prosthesis isn't done with a screwdriver or WD-40, so you have to go see the prosthetist, etc.
So to avoid all that when choosing a pair of shoes, I think we are even more meticulous than an able-bodied person.
Renaud - GDC : So, are there any brands or models of shoes that particularly suit you?
Romain ABELLAN : In cleats I'm Adidas and in sneakers I like to walk a little every day, I'm more on the Asics side.
"We need to keep our feet on the ground."
Renaud - GDC : So that's great, you'll be able to find what you're looking for at GDC
Romain ABELLAN : That’s impeccable!
Renaud - GDC : In your opinion, how could shops like GDC help amputees find suitable or simpler everyday footwear solutions?
Romain ABELLAN : The idea would perhaps be to have certain models tried by people like me, in order to give feedback and specify it in the product information, the descriptions, explaining that it has been tried by such and such type of disabled person.
In this way, a person with a disability will be able to identify themselves and move more easily towards certain recognized and validated models.
Especially since putting on and taking off shoes as amputees takes longer than for an able-bodied person, it would therefore be a good idea.
Renaud - GDC : Could you share with us some anecdotes or unexpected situations related to your experience with shoes that able-bodied people wouldn't suspect?
Romain ABELLAN : I can't even feel my feet.
Renaud - GDC : I think it could be beneficial for some...
Romain ABELLAN : Finally, some footwork, sorry...
But in particular situations, yes, sometimes I have fun with my foot!
When you are a femoral amputee like me, you can turn your leg around completely, you can turn your foot at different angles, you can even put a glass on your foot without any problem, so there are quite a few situations where we laugh about it, or it's true that able-bodied people wouldn't be able to, I think, turn their foot around.
Renaud - GDC : You recently appeared on the TPMP show with Cyril Hanouna, which touched quite a few viewers. I wanted to know what prompted you to share your story on that particular set?
Romain ABELLAN : I wanted to react directly, I left the hospital on March 10th.
In October, right after, I did a World Cup, I progressed in the family business and I think it's important to show people with disabilities that disability does not stop progress in life, and that you can achieve a lot despite disability.
So I think it's a show that gets a lot of views. People either like it or they don't, but even those who don't like it, I'm sure they watch the videos, see things on social media.
So I think it was a good compromise to show people that despite everything, I managed to stay strong, that I'm not the only one who is strong, and above all that it can give strength to others.
Renaud - GDC : As an entrepreneur and athlete, how do you perceive the importance of inclusion in sport and the professional world?
Romain Abellan : Since we're not professional athletes, we can have a life outside of sports. I think it's important to stay connected to the working world, even if sometimes I'm in Italy signing autographs for children, giving talks... But you have to stay grounded and remember that sport is important, it's therapeutic. But the working world is also important, and it allows us to show that you can be an entrepreneur and have a disability.
Renaud - GDC : I understand. Are you familiar with our group GDC, formerly Chauss 34? Have you ever bought shoes from us?
Romain ABELLAN : Yes, I know, there's one not far from where I live. I used to buy more online.
Renaud - GDC : OK, but on our site at least?
Romain ABELLAN : Yes, of course! On your website.
Renaud - GDC : What solutions or innovations would you like to see developed to make daily life easier for amputees in terms of footwear? If you have any ideas, of course.
Romain ABELLAN : I said it a little bit earlier, on the informational side there could be more details.
Simply being in a tibial or femoral disability are two different things.
A femoral doesn't work like a tibial because the tibial has its knee, I don't.
So we don't have the same support, we don't have the same resources.
It can be nice to be able to try on pairs of shoes and in the description, since there is always a small description, add a notification like: "this one has been tried on by a femoral" or whatever, but it can help a person with a disability to choose their pair of shoes.
Renaud - GDC : I would like to know what message you wish to convey to those who face similar challenges, whether it be an amputation or something else, a disability of this kind in both sport and professional life.
Romain ABELLAN : What I can convey is that in life nothing is over and that even with a disability you have to keep dreaming.
I think that dreaming is part of life, and setting challenges and goals is extremely important.
A person with a disability who lacks goals or withdraws into themselves is in trouble. Life is short; you have to make the most of it. There are some people who are told they only have six months to live.
We may have a disability, but we have our whole lives ahead of us to pursue our sporting or professional goals. And the great thing about sports is that there are so many different sports that are adapted for any situation.
In a situation of disability, you can play in a wheelchair, you can play like me on crutches, you can run with blades, the guy who has one arm less, he can do what he wants.
We saw the Paralympics not long ago, we saw all kinds of disabilities and it is proof that people with sporting disabilities are normal people, and above all are high-level athletes, like an athlete with 2 legs or 2 arms.
I think we should be considered athletes much more than able-bodied people.
Renaud - GDC : Thank you so much. In conclusion, your story is a powerful testament to courage, determination, and adaptability. At GDC, we are honored to share your journey, which perfectly embodies our values of inclusion, perseverance, and inspiration. Thank you, Romain, thank you for reminding us that every challenge can be transformed into an opportunity to grow and inspire others. Do you have any final thoughts you'd like to add?
Romain ABELLAN : Anyway, thank you, thank you for this great interview and I hope it will be seen as much as TPMP, that many people with disabilities can see it and that it can help people.
Renaud - GDC : Thank you again.
Romain Abellan's story is a true lesson in resilience, determination, and adaptation. Whether on the football field with the French amputee football team, in his role as an entrepreneur, or in his daily choices, he brilliantly illustrates how to transform a life challenge into strength.
His testimony reminds us that every challenge, no matter how great, can be overcome with courage and ambition.
Thanks to Romain for this inspiration! And you, what did you take away from this experience? Share your thoughts in the comments!
And to find the podcast on our YouTube channel, This way!
