Alexia’s resilience: “Each little victory over
the body was fantastic”

Alexia Girault of France endured a major health setback aged 30, but her passion for golf drove her to get back up and in 2024 she was winning an RSM trophy in incredible style. 

When Alexia Girault qualified for the 2024 RSM European Net Play-offs it was in part the summation of a remarkable comeback through golf, that has significantly helped Alexia’s physical and mental health after facing a major trauma in her life.

When aged 30, Alexia awoke paralysed due to a tumour in the spinal cord (today she has a balance problem, and no sensation under the left knee). Alexia tells us: “I woke up paralysed; in a few days your life changes and then with little hope of ever walking again.

“We ask ourselves a lot of questions at such times but I was very well supported by those around me. I wanted to recover and I gave 200% to get there. It wasn’t easy but each little victory over the body was fantastic. My passion for golf motivated me to get back up, I absolutely wanted to play again.”

Recovery to walk and promote balance was a triumph in itself. It took Alexia nearly a year to be able to try golf again at all, and two years before she could play more regularly.

“I recreated a swing first with my arms only and then slowly the body found a movement again. To this day I try to turn as much as possible around an axis in order to limit any imbalance. All this was created with several coaches including Franck Mora my first coach and Frédéric Cupillard [coach of the French team]. I also work at my club with Benoit Cugnart.”

Later, in September 2024, Alexia was standing on the tee in the watery sunshine at North Hants Golf Club in England, ready for the final in the Net category of the RSM European Play-offs. This smiling but focused woman from South West France was ready to take on José Bagnarelli, a skilful Italian player who has also had to fight to regain mobility and balance after a motorcycle crash. The pair enjoy a great mutual respect and are firm friends having played many EDGA supported tournaments.

In the closest match of the week, Alexia would win a dramatic final but only after the encounter was ‘all square’ after 18 holes, needing five extra ‘sudden-death’ play-off holes to find a champion in the late summer dusk.  

Alexia said: “Finishing my final on the 23rd hole, playing against my great friend José, was like a dream for me. Despite this friendship, the game was at times a little tense, we both wanted to go to the end of this adventure with its twists and turns. My approach shot to the green on the 18th to a few centimetres from the flag, when I thought I had lost, remains a special memory.”

It’s not all about competition for Alexia, who loves her work at AnD Architectes and is a member at Golf Club Agen Bon-Encontre. “I also like to volunteer to encourage others. During our golf initiation sessions for people with a disability we very quickly see the health benefits. It is great that we can support other people.”

Friendships through golf

It was a fellow French national, Nino Ourabah (a golfer who plays with one arm), who had inspired Alexia to try G4D (golf for the disabled) events, and today aged 49 and playing off a golf handicap of 13.7, Alexia is playing her very best golf and wanted to commend Nino for his assistance and also offer “special thanks to Patricia, Céline, Mélanie, Isa and Nadia who are of absolute support”.

Certainly, encouragement from fellow players is one of the celebrated assets of G4D, in competition, practice, play, or simply encouraging people with any disability – physical, neurological, sensory or intellectual – to try the game.

None of this work would be possible without the support of organisations that believe in the power of inclusion. RSM, a global leader in audit, tax, and consulting, has been a committed partner to EDGA, helping to expand access to the game and ensure that golfers of all abilities are given the chance to compete and grow. RSM’s involvement is about creating a culture in which golf truly becomes a game for everyone.

Alexia sums it all up. “I love golf! For walking in nature and sharing a game with friends. Golf is a disabled-friendly sport, the ball is static, and it’s magical to see people who think they can’t play sport, but discover that golf is possible.

“There are two very different things about friendship in golf. The first is to meet the players we know again and this is always very nice, while the second is the new encounters and these moments shared on the course. For someone with a disability, golf allows you to meet people and it limits isolation.”

– With thanks to RSM for their support. Click here to find out more about the RSM European Play-offs.

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