On Court with Michaël Jérémiasz: A Dream for Better Inclusion

On the 30th of October 2025, the morning began with Paralympic champion Michaël Jérémiasz rallying on the courts of Sugar Beach Mauritius with his nine-year-old son, as a small audience gathered around. But this wasn’t just another morning of tennis — it was a meeting of worlds, and the warm-up to something special. Para-athletes from the Mauritius Wheelchair Tennis Team soon joined him for an unforgettable and inclusive coaching session led by Michaël himself.

After the session, we caught up with Michaël for a quick chat about his journey and what the day meant to him.

How the Collaboration Came About

“Well, I’m actually here as a consultant for Sunlife,” Michaël explained, “to help make both Sugar Beach and La Pirogue more inclusive and accessible for all guests. I have different jobs, and this is one of them.”

“And since I’m a former tennis player, Sunlife proposed the idea of organising this event while I was here. It was a collaboration with the Mauritius Wheelchair Tennis Team. And all together we made an amazing event. We played drills, then we ended with a doubles match, because when you play sports, you like to compete. We talked about improving their game and how to find sponsors to travel and compete. Sugar Beach also treated us to an amazing buffet for everyone.”

Mauritius and the People Who Make It Shine

This was Michaël’s fourth time on the island, but his first at Sugar Beach. “I love it here,” he said. “It's a beautiful place. People are very welcoming, very professional, very adaptable. When you describe something that should be improved in terms of service or accessibility, the second you say it, there’s an army of people who know exactly what to do, and they do it. Also, the food is unbelievable.”

And when asked what drew him to the island the first time around, his answer was simple: “Reputation. Everybody I know who came to Mauritius said it's beautiful and people are very, very nice and welcoming. For me, that's two very good reasons to come here.”

His Journey

“I started tennis when I was five years old,” he recalled. “I played until I was eighteen, to a decent level, but I would have never played professionally. Then I had a snow-skiing accident, I ended up being in a wheelchair, and then I discovered wheelchair tennis, and I loved it. It became my job.”

“As a professional athlete, I played for fifteen years. I won four medals, two bronze, one silver and one gold. I was number one in the world, flag bearer for France. I won every Grand Slam in the world. So yeah, it’s been an amazing journey.”

He retired after the Rio Paralympics in 2016, the same year his son was born. That was the beginning of a new journey as an entrepreneur with consulting, events, and charity work.

But even with all his achievements, Michaël still dreams of something greater. “My main motivation is to fight for the rights of disabled people. My dream is to be unemployed someday because that would mean my job is no longer needed. It would mean we’re finally living in a fair world.”

The Power of Sport

“For me, sport was first a powerful tool to be independent on my wheelchair,” he said. “It helped me gain confidence, do things by myself, and appreciate myself again. You rebuild your body, your mind, you meet people, you socialise, you improve your health. It’s important, not just for disabled people, for everyone.”

Kindness vs. Caring

When asked how Sunlife’s vision of a world where kindness shines appears in his coaching, Michaël smiled. “Well, I'm not kind, am I?” he joked, glancing at his son enjoying one of the desserts from the buffet nearby. His son grinned and said, “It depends!” prompting laughter all around.

“I’d say I’m more caring than kind,” Michaël continued. “I care about what’s interesting for others, what’s important for them, valuing them. Kindness to me is how you show it, the way you talk, the way you listen, the way you smile.”

“When you coach, some players need to be pushed hard, others need to be coached kindly. My technique is just to be respectful towards anyone, no matter who you are or where you come from. To treat everybody equally.”

What Inclusion Feels Like

“I hope they leave with a bit more knowledge about the sport,” he said after the session. “Maybe more motivation, to be driven, to achieve. And maybe we can meet again for another training session together.”

For the local players, that hope had already become reality.

“It was really special,” said Véronique Marisson, coach and coordinator for the Mauritius Wheelchair Tennis Team. “This year we didn’t have much training. Today gave us motivation again. The players learned new techniques, small tips to improve their game. It was wonderful.”

“Being on the court with a Paralympic champion was extraordinary,” added Matthieu Lambin, one of the players. “He showed me how to improve my position and my serve. You can see his mastery in how he plays.”

For Kesavadee Rungapen, it was a reminder of joy. “I love tennis because it gets us out of the house. It gives us purpose. Meeting him was something I’ll never forget.”

Building a More Inclusive Hospitality

Joëlle Edwards-Tonks, Sunlife’s Chief Commercial and Operations Officer, said it best during her speech:

“At Sunlife, inclusive hospitality isn’t a slogan... it’s a way of doing things. The goal is for everyone, including people with reduced mobility, to fully enjoy the hotel experience. That means rethinking infrastructure, guest journeys, and services so every detail of a stay is designed for all.”

A Simple Message: Do Better

When asked what message he’d like to share with readers, Michaël didn’t hesitate.

“Treat others like equals. Nothing is granted. Any of us can end up being disabled. So, I’m not asking you; I’m urging you to do better. We all can. Not to be the best, but just to do better — with your neighbours, your friends, your guests. Be more inclusive.”

As the event ended, after a wonderful time shared together, the atmosphere felt lighter, warmer, fairer. For a few hours, everyone belonged.

That’s what inclusion looks like — a world where everyone feels they belong.