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André Payraud, born on July 12, 1948, in Passy, Haute-Savoie, nicknamed "the swimmer of the impossible," is a major figure in French whitewater swimming. Known by the nickname "Dédé the Carpet," he is renowned for his daring descents of large mountain rivers and for having helped popularize the sport starting in the 1980s. The ninth of 15 children, four of whom died before his birth, Dédé had a difficult childhood. When he was only six years old, his father, a railway worker, was electrocuted on the Chedde railway line on his way home from work after having one too many drinks. When he talks about his early years, André never feels sorry for himself; he believes that these hardships forged the strength of character that defines him. In his native Alps, he discovered the world of rivers at a very young age and quickly gravitated towards whitewater sports, first as a passionate participant, then as a professional, developing a simultaneously athletic and contemplative approach to whitewater swimming. Swimming down the Mont Blanc torrent in 1980 was the first in a long series of filmed feats: swimming Everest in 1982; the Ganges in 1985; the Colorado; Annapurna; the Jordan River—no river could stop Dédé in his quest for adventure. For his whitewater exploits, André Payraud was made a Knight of the National Order of Merit and received the Silver Medal for Youth and Sports. Alongside his exploits around the world, in 1982 Dédé founded the first rafting company in Haute-Savoie, Session Raft, Adventures Payraud Mont-Blanc, in Domancy. Over the decades, he has completed a series of spectacular descents in notoriously difficult torrents and gorges, earning him a reputation as a swimmer capable of facing extreme conditions and constantly pushing the boundaries of what was thought possible in whitewater swimming. His sporting career is complemented by significant work in education and outreach, both on the water, by coaching participants, and through films and documentaries that highlight the beauty of the rivers and the demanding nature of this sport. Over time, André Payraud has also become an ambassador for safety and respect for the natural environment, emphasizing the importance of route reconnaissance, risk awareness, and the technical preparation necessary for navigating whitewater. Still driven by the same passion, he continues to share his experience, his memory of the rivers and his pioneering perspective, helping to inspire a new generation of whitewater swimmers and guides.
