Mathis Ghio, five world titles and an engineer's perspective on the ocean

His commitment

“It's not just talk, it's engineering in service of the ocean”

“I chose The SeaCleaners because it's an association that takes concrete action in the field, with real technical solutions. That truly resonates with me as a future engineer.”

“What I want to bring is my visibility and my voice to a community of ocean enthusiasts, but also my presence at spots and competitions around the world, to highlight the reality of pollution wherever I foil and inspire people to take action.”

His track record

30 metres

That was the distance separating him from victory at the World Cup in Turkey when his board struck a massive plastic bag. He ultimately crossed the finish line in 9th place.

What drove him to act

A flawless race, stopped dead in its tracks by a plastic bag

“I had led the race from start to finish. Just 30 metres from the line, I ran into a gigantic plastic bag. My board came to a sudden halt, I was thrown about fifteen metres forward, and I found myself swimming mid-race to recover my gear.”

“That's when you realise that plastic pollution isn't a distant or theoretical problem: it's right there in the water, and it has very real consequences. I'll never forget that race.”

His vision

Watersports athletes: witnesses and voices for the ocean

“I hope this partnership shows that watersports athletes have a role to play, that we aren't just users of the ocean, but also its witnesses. I want this to inspire my own partners and the wingfoil community in this direction, and encourage other athletes to take meaningful action.”