The first thing that marks about him is his smile.
Wesley Pardin, 31 years since January 1, sketches life like a starving man.
The goalkeeper of Aix and the French handball team which begins the World Cup this Thursday in Egypt against Norway, could have taken a completely different path in his youth in Martinique, between violent fights, rival gangs and trafficking in drug.
Not even two weeks ago, the one who made up the trio in the cages with Vincent Gérard and Yann Genty celebrated the 8th anniversary of his triplets: "They bring me serenity and love, they are all my life.
A life that has not always been synonymous with ease for those who grew up in Vieux Pont, a disadvantaged and unsanitary neighborhood in the middle of the Lamentin mangrove swamp.
The third son of a family of four, Wesley Pardin is confronted from his childhood with a plague: “My neighborhood was bathed in rather hard drugs, like crack cocaine.
There were some on every street corner.
"Hirécia, her Haitian mother who left her island because of poverty, is unemployed and takes full care of her children:" She gave us a fairly flexible education, but we shouldn't go off the right path.
We had no secrets.
We had to tell him all our nonsense.
"
Until he was 14, young Wesley chained them up.
The very violent gang battles sent him into police custody three times.
“For me, it was normal life.
I did well at school but that didn't stop me from being the rowdy child of the family.
The only good thing is that it gave me a fighting spirit.
At this age, to avoid hanging out in the street, he already plays hand, a very popular sport in Martinique.
"The opportunity to escape from bad influences"
His talent and impressive physique were quickly spotted by Patrice Lecroq (also discoverer of Cédric Sorhaindo and Mathieu Grébille), who heads the Pôle Espoirs on the island.
He landed in 2005 at that of Toulouse: “It was unexpected.
I was just playing for fun.
My mother was happy, it was my way of showing her that her sacrifices were not in vain.
Thanks to her, we were able to eat every day.
It was also an opportunity for me to escape from bad influences.
I got out thanks to the hand.
"
The first year is complicated.
The climate, the way of thinking, everything is different.
Fortunately, his host family is from Martinique: "They have helped me enormously," remembers the one who plans to become an electrician after his career.
Without them, I could have cracked.
I had moments of doubt, but it was out of the question to leave.
"
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Wesley Pardin turned pro at 18 and joined the French team at 22.
Since his transfer to Aix three seasons ago, the best for the moment at his position in the French Championship has taken on another dimension: “My ambition is to win titles.
I have never lifted a trophy, even in Martinique!
"