Last week at the Masséna bookstore in Nice, a joint interview took place between two people connected by a passion: the sea. Both have published books on this common theme.
Chantal Thomas was born in Lyon; she is a novelist. Her work “L’échange des princesses” was adapted for cinema in 2017. Several of her books deal with one subject: the sea. “Souvenirs de la marée basse” in 2017, “Journal de nage” in 2022, and “L’étreinte de l’eau” in 2023. Chantal Thomas is an Academician, succeeding Jean D’Ormesson in seat number 12.
Guillaume Néry on the other hand is from Nice. He is particularly known for breaking the constant weight world record for freediving four times. He wrote books, with “Profondeurs” and “Nature aquatique” being his two latest novels.
Chantal Thomas has always been passionate about swimming. “Before birth everyone swims”, for her swimming is an extension of life, and what she loves is “turning her back on the rest of the world.” When she swims, she feels free.
A passion born by accident, an accident that does not stop the passion
For Guillaume Néry, it is a passion that came by chance. “A total accident, a contest on the bus to pass the time with a friend”. From this experience, Guillaume Néry would test and explore the limits of his body. “The fascination of going against the current, the very essence of life is breathing”, is what has driven and still drives the freediver. His career abruptly ended after an accident. In attempting to break a world record, an organizational error nearly cost him his life. He descended ten meters more than was planned due to a marking mistake, then suffered a blackout and pulmonary edema. This accident ended his career but not his passion, as he opened the Bluenery Academy in Villefranche-sur-Mer.
The two artists shared their passion for over an hour with the regulars of the Masséna bookstore.
