“I would have loved to offer my brother a Marseillaise”: the touching story of Alex and Kylian Portal at the Paralympics

Les frères Portal sont tous les deux montés sur le podium ce samedi 31 août. MAXPPP – LP/Jean-Baptiste Quentin

Brothers Alex and Kylian Portal, 22 and 17, won silver and bronze in the 400m (S12-S13) behind the untouchable Belarusian Ihar Boki.

There is a touch of Lebrun in the Portals. Two brothers who share the same terrain, the same passion, and the same podium. With in the end, the big one being more proud of the little one's performance than of his own.“It was crazy”, sums up Kylian, on cloud nine.

But unlike the Montpellier siblings, a taste of unfinished business remains stuck in the throat of the eldest, Alex. Despite an incredible race, despite a frustration initially evacuated by the 3rd place of Kylian (17 years old), disappointment caught up with the 22-year-old swimmer. Coming for the title, determined to finally bring down the unbeatable Belarusian Ihar Boki and his now 19 gold medals, Alex Portal was devoured in the last 75 meters, helpless.

“I love being his brother so much”

He managed to string together a few words into the television microphone, as he left the pool. But he didn't find the strength to stop for a few minutes in front of the other media. So, he waited at the end of the aisle, the time for his brother, all fired up, to join him after having, himself, expressed his joy in front of the journalists. Once the two were reunited, Alex fell into the arms of the “little one”, in tears. The emotion was too great. “In my handicap, my biggest regret is not seeing my little brother swim”, explained Alex before the event. Kylian, for the first time, then played the role of big brother.

“I try to console him, even if I don't really know how to do it. Anyway, Boki had a crazy race. At that moment, I just want to send him lots of good vibes. I'm so proud of what he's done over the last three days (three silver medals). I see every day how he trains, how he fights to be the best. I love being his brother so much”, Kylian smiled. He's 17, an Olympic bronze medalist, speaks well… Don't talk to him about age!

“I think I'll be able to enjoy it later”

For his part, Alex was furious. He thought he could do better, could do better. Even on the podium, even in front of a melting Arena, he couldn't enjoy it. “I would have loved to offer my brother a Marseillaise. We would have lived it together. I'm so proud of him, he's huge. I didn't do what was necessary. I should have killed the race earlier. I'm not going to complain but I think I'll be able to enjoy it later”, he breathed.

Mother Portal had a hard time containing her tears during the ordeal. MAXPPP – LP/Jean-Baptiste Quentin

If there was one person who was enjoying the whole show, it was the mother, Virginie. Judge of the women's events and installed at the edge of the pool, she found the strength not to break protocol and jump over the barrier to take her sons in her arms. “It must have been hard for her. She couldn't hold back her tears, I'm sure. I got that from her, I'm emotional too”, Alex smiled.

The mother, the aunt, the sister who was in sports study swimming, the grandmother who owned a club… The Portal brothers' destiny was quickly decided. Los Angeles 2028 will be an even better vintage. A bit like the Lebruns.

The two brothers suffer from ocular albinism

Same blood, same passion, same podium… All linked by the same handicap. Alex and Kylian Portal suffer from ocular albinism, which considerably reduces their vision. Both cannot see a meter and cannot distinguish dimensions.

In the water, they count their arm movements. They have also overdeveloped the other senses. “It requires a lot of energy but thanks to that, we know perfectly where we are in the water,” explains Alex.

During his fantastic ascent to get the bronze medal, Kylian says: “On the last 50m, I see a shadow a few meters away. I tell myself it’s Ukrainian. So, I gave it my all". And it paid off.