The WISE Circle
In 2024, we presented our first group of athletes, embodied by 4 athletes: Sylvain Court, Johann Baujard, Kevin Vermeulen and Célia Gigout. Since then, the group has grown to include Emeline Oudet, Axelle Nardoux, Hélène Léger and Corentin Play.
When the idea of a team came up, we wanted to approach it in our own way, staying true to our philosophy. It's not a team, but rather a "circle of poets of effort and self-improvement." Indeed, for this group, competition isn't the central focus, as trail running culture extends far beyond races and bib numbers. While athletes are meant to inspire runners and influence the sport, we want to use their voices to showcase a more eclectic approach, emphasizing off-road running and achieving FKT (Fastest Known Time).
Our goal isn't to chase records, but rather to explore new trails, with the primary quest being the simple pleasure of moving from Point A to Point B using only our own physical strength. A bit like a hunter-gatherer.
The WISE circle is therefore now 8 athletes passionate about trail running and wide open spaces who have made it a philosophy of life and have anchored it in their daily balance.
The 8 athletes of the Wise Circle for 2025
The odds and places are given for guidance only because many people like data!
Kevin Vermeulen: ITRA 871
Having burst onto the trail running scene with a podium finish at the OCC in 2018, Kevin has since specialized in marathon distances. Dreaming of long stretches in nature and eager to challenge himself over longer distances, Kevin is embarking on a new chapter in his career, focusing on longer formats. The 2024 season was a resounding success, with many races going well, including a victory at the MCC and a very respectable 8th place finish at the Grand Trail des Templiers!
→ her Instagram .
Johann Baujard: ITRA 869
Originally from the Massif Central, Johann now lives in the Hautes-Alpes. He explores the mountains on skis in the winter and on trails as soon as the weather warms up. Drawn to unique and personal adventures, he took part in Zegama this year, a race close to his heart and one he'll remember as a truly authentic and challenging experience! He finished 21st in a field packed with runners. He also competed in the French Mountain Running Championships (6th) and the French Trail Running Championships (9th), where he made a strong comeback to competition!
→ her Instagram .
Sylvain Court: ITRA 851
A true mountain man at heart, he loves exploring the Belledonne mountain range during his training. With extensive experience and an iconic figure in trail running thanks to his many years at the highest level and his 2015 world championship title, Sylvain is looking to give his career a new boost. This year, Sylvain won the Ultra Trail de Saint Jacques, the Pastourelle, and the Xtrail du Ventoux. He also shone near Millau at the Endurance Trail des Templiers (2nd place). The UTMB proved more challenging, but there's no doubt he'll return to these beautiful Alpine trails to complete this legendary circumnavigation of Mont Blanc.
→ her Instagram .
Corentin Play: ITRA 847
A newcomer to the world of trail running, Corentin hails from Saint-Étienne. He has been exploring the sport for a few months and testing himself on various formats. He notably performed well at the SaintéLyon at the end of the year, achieving a strong 9th place, as well as at the Saint Jacques 50K Trail (4th), the Marathon Race (3rd), the Trail des Givré (4th), and the Sainté Urban Trail, where he took the victory ahead of Baptiste Chassagne.
→ her Instagram .
Célia Gigout: ITRA 708
Born in 1997, Célia made a name for herself by winning several races, including the 100K Ultra Trail des Montagnes du Jura in 2023. This year, she demonstrated her progress at the French Long Trail Championships with a hard-fought 11th place finish, as well as at the Wildstrubel 70K by UTMB with a 4th place finish. The season ended on a difficult note at the SaintéLyon, with accumulated fatigue throughout the year, but Célia used the opportunity to take a break and recharge her depleted batteries, ready to tackle 2025 with determination, enthusiasm, and passion.
→ her Instagram .
Axelle Nardoux: ITRA 611
Co-founder of Wise, Axelle loves multi-day hikes and discovering new trails. From Brittany to Corsica, from the UTMB trails to more challenging routes, Axelle likes to be well-prepared for her projects! She also enjoys pinning on race numbers and having fun in a variety of races. This season, she notably ran the Intégrale des Causses (7th place) and the Restonica Trail (5th place), and shared her beautiful Breton hike on the GR34 with us in November.
→ her Instagram .
Emeline Oudet: ITRA 702
A former high-level kayaker and resident of Pau for the past 10 years, Emeline developed a passion for trail running later in life and has always been drawn to long distances. For her, trail running is about exploring and discovering her environment and discovering herself. Her season was somewhat disjointed due to injuries, but she was determined to find the keys to continued improvement! The year started very well with a victory at the Hivernale du Baigura and excellent results, as well as at the Val Tho Summit Games (2nd in the VT Speed category) and the Xtrail Courchevel (5th). She confirmed her form at the Grand Raid des Pyrénées with a challenging back-to-back race: the Tour des Neouvielle 42K (3rd) and the Tour des Moudang 64K (1st), in preparation for the Diagonale des Fous. Unfortunately, another injury brought Emeline's momentum to a screeching halt. She was unable to complete her crossing of Réunion Island. Fortunately, she had done a reconnaissance (over 4 days), so she returned to mainland France with a new injury only half disappointed.
→ her Instagram .
Hélène Léger: ITRA 635
Originally from Belgium, Hélène loves running on all flat courses, whether on trails or pavement. She won the French 24-hour championship last September. She also ran the Ecotrail de Paris as part of her US preparation and, most notably, the Western States 100 in California (100 miles, 23 hours 6 minutes). It was the culmination of a lifelong dream and the discovery of a different, more intimate and authentic vision of trail running.
→ her Instagram .
Onward to 2025 !
Will the Circle expand? What will its main objectives be? Will it be about long-distance hiking? Will the "OFF" (off-road) route focus on gourmet experiences, and will the FKT (Free Trekking) route offer a grand escape? We'll share all of this with you with enthusiasm and simplicity. On the menu: exciting new gear to equip you from head to toe and tackle any trail, any crossing, and everything that thrills us!
To keep moving forward, exploring, leaving as few traces as possible of our passage: that's our plan, our quest for authentic pleasure, flow and freedom.