Gilles Dupont, the upcoming trailblazer with a disability breaking barriers in the presenting industry: “I aspire to be true to myself, not another Koen Wauters.”

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William Boeva ​​caused a riot about it last fall. In an open letter he wrote how people with disabilities should not be taken out of the closet as ‘a stuffed bear’ to see “how to be cute”. A difference would only be made if those people with disabilities “read the weather forecast.” A message that did not fall on a cold stone at VTM, because they will soon launch Gilles Dupont – who has autism – as the first presenter with a disability.

Together with Koen Wauters, the G-athlete (athletes with a physical or mental disability, ed.) follows 90 Belgian athletes in their preparations for the Special Olympics in Berlin. Those are the world games for athletes with an intellectual disability that take place in June. Gilles is an expert by experience, because during the previous edition he won a gold medal with the basketball team. But presenting a program is of course something else. “After my audition I thought: “this was great fun, but it probably won’t work out”. I was therefore very happy when Koen asked me to present this program together”, says Gilles, who also appeared in the second season of the ‘Container Cup’. “This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, because this way I also have the chance to put G-athletes in the picture and give them the attention they deserve.”

Gilles has prepared thoroughly. “I immediately started practicing hard,” he nods. “Luckily I can learn from the best and see how Koen does it. But above all I want to keep my own style. I don’t want to become another Koen Wauters, but just be Gilles. Anyway, I’m going to give everything! Just like all the athletes we follow, by the way. Because even though fun and friendship are central to Special Olympics – in the end the athletes train very hard and everyone wants to come home with medals.”

According to Koen Wauters, Gilles is already a presentation talent. “We are only a few weeks into our collaboration, but Gilles has already wrapped me up completely and – we have to be honest about that – completely ‘played away’”, said the presenter who has been working for VTM for 34 years this year. “Gilles is charming, funny and never shy of a question. I can’t wait to introduce him to Flanders. And then we haven’t even talked about the athletes we’re going to follow… and how we really want to involve people at home in our mission! It will be special: that’s for sure!”

‘Everything for the Games’, later this spring on VTM.

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