Broken Bones, Unbroken Will

The story of Toucouille

Loïc Dubois took a leap of faith into a world unknown at just 20 years old. Dubois, known in the gaming world as “Toucouille,” moved halfway across the world from his home country of France to the United States. 

The only thing that mattered was the pursuit of his dream and purpose — to be the best League of Legends player.

One of the most popular video games in the world, League of Legends is a dazzlingly intricate game notorious for its split-second strategy. “League” pins two teams of five players against each other, and while it is easy to play, it’s incredibly difficult to master. 

At the highest level, it requires extreme mental fortitude and robot-like mechanical prowess.

A competitor of Toucouille’s, Tae-ho Kim, known as RoseThorn, has played League for over ten years and became a professional League player two years ago. RoseThorn knows how hard it is to go pro in any competition but sees “some factors in League that may make it harder.”

RoseThorn discussed how the barriers to playing League are far less restrictive than in other sports. All that is required is a computer and Wi-Fi, hence why over 115 million people play worldwide. 

Anyone can play League anytime, rain or shine.

“You have to be really self-critical. There is no way to practice specific skill sets consistently, no place where we can do drills”, RoseThorn said.

By the numbers, the probability of making it to the NBA or NFL is nearly the same as becoming a professional League of Legends player. There are only ten starting spots for Toucouille’s position in North America, so making it to the big leagues is no small feat. 

Before Toucouille’s big move to the League Championship Series in the United States, he was a beloved French player known for his sense of humor and aura of confidence. He had just won MVP of the spring season in the French league and was ready for a promotion.

Yet despite Toucouille's success playing professional League, his toughest battle was never on the computer.

A Lifelong Battle

When Toucouille was six years old, he broke his left arm and right femur. 

Four years later, he broke his left hip.

When he was 13 years old, he broke his femur again.

Something wasn’t right with Toucouille — he was diagnosed with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a lifelong condition commonly known as brittle bone disease.

Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or OI, is a rare genetic disorder that causes irregular bone development due to abnormal collagen production. Collagen supports the whole body, so an abnormal amount can cause bones to break far easier. 

The disease is estimated to affect 1-in-15,000 individuals, and there is no cure. 

“Anyone with OI is at risk of fractures with minimal trauma, so something as simple as tripping and falling on a rug or taking an odd step off a sidewalk may result in a fracture,” said Clinical Geneticist Dr. Mahim Jain. 

Dr. Jain is the Director of the OI program at the Kennedy Krieger Institute of Johns Hopkins University, a renowned center where specialists evaluate individuals with neurologic bone or musculoskeletal conditions. 

“Some of our patients talk about OI like PTSD, symptoms of heart racing, sweating, having flashbacks to some of the major fractures that they've had in their lives,” Dr. Jain said.

While he discussed the numerous difficulties of living with OI, Dr. Jain could not refrain from praising those affected, saying how they are remarkably resilient people despite their physical limitations. 

“I have no doubt in our patients with OI. They would tell me that people with OI are particularly gifted,” Dr. Jain said. “There's a lot of tenacity, a lot that people with the condition have had to overcome.”

Toucouille is a perfect example — he has achieved so much despite his physical condition, but it was not easy and he had doubts. 

“I had some anxiety… Is my life going to be good? Am I going to be able to do what I want to do? How am I going to live like anyone else?” Toucouille said in a biopic video done by his Esports organization, FlyQuest. 

Still, Toucouille viewed his condition not as a burden but as an opportunity to help others.

“I was in the hospital and saw a picture saying that 1-in-20 people are born with congenital disease. I realized 19 people are free, and I can deal with it,” Toucouille said. “Thanks to me, 19 people don’t have to.”

Student of the Game

Thanks to his relentless desire to learn and improve, Toucouille persevered to become one of the best League of Legends players in the world 

John Oddball is a League of Legends freelance journalist and reporter that has interviewed Toucouille multiple times. What stood out to Oddball was Toucouille’s competitive drive.

“Toucouille has a laser focus. He not only does all the hoopla with being a pro player in terms of scrimmaging and practicing, but he goes the extra mile in all regards,” Oddball said. 

The French professional looks to competitors in other disciplines to learn from the best — a trait possessed by the smartest and hardest-working athletes.

“He reads books about being a competitor and how to increase your discipline and competitive drive,” Oddball said. “One of his favorite books is “The Art of Learning.” It's a book by a chess grandmaster.”

Similarly, esports reporter Nick Geracie interviewed Toucouille at the start of the competitive year in 2022 and was impressed by how he carried himself. Geracie admires the French rookie for persevering despite his condition, but also for moving halfway across the world and achieving success.

“He's not just surviving with his disease. He's a top player in a major region in one of the biggest esports in the world,” Geracie said.

Toucouille earned 2nd and 3rd Team All-LCS honors in his rookie year thanks to his impressive work ethic and confidence as a person and professional.

But he wasn’t always so confident. 

A Level Playing Field

Growing up, Toucouille struggled with his self-confidence and identity due to OI.

He was different. 

He could not live a normal life. 

“It took me a while to get that confidence,” Toucouille said. “I think I always lacked a bit of confidence in my gameplay and in my life.” 

He could not play sports or jump around the playground; however, he could do whatever he wanted behind the computer. He was no different than his opponent while playing League. 

Geracie attested to this, saying how Toucouille even said it for himself in their interview, “that League is a place where he has an even playing field.”

Toucouille started to develop his personality and sense of confidence through the anonymity of playing an online video game — nobody knew what he looked like or about his disease. 

The only thing that mattered was how he performed.

“It's that ability to be truly anonymous. There's nothing holding you back. It's how much you care about the game versus how much they care. It's quite obvious Toucouille cares way more than a lot of people,” said Aaron Santos, longtime League fan and player.

Like Santos, esports podcast host Matthew Pennica greatly admires the French professional and his inspiring story but does not even think of his disease when watching him play. 

“I just see him as a great player and talented professional who's got a passion for the game,” Pennica said.

Toucouille, Santos and Pennica all raise a more significant point about esports and anonymity. Many people lack the physical gifts to play sports at a high level, and others cannot play sports at all; however, in esports, none of that matters. 

Esports and video games provide a sense of identity and purpose to those with none. They connect millions of people worldwide and enable players to pursue their dreams and inspire others, just like Toucouille.

Outward Impact and The Future

Heading into his second year on FlyQuest, Toucouille has high aspirations, but winning a championship in North America is the goal.

However, perhaps the number one thing that Toucouille enjoys is inspiring others, just as the greatest North American League player of all time, Søren “Bjergsen” Bjerg, did for him.

Bjergsen endured bullying as a child in his home country of Denmark. Like Toucouille, he found his purpose and identity playing League — little did Bjersen know that his story would inspire his future opponent.

Even if he does not know it, Toucouille’s inspiring story has made a lasting impact on thousands around the world, such as RoseThorn, Oddball, and Pennica. 

“When someone has that kind of motivation from something like that, it motivates me and makes me want to get better,” RoseThorn said.

Oddball agrees, drawing from Toucouille’s story, that “even if your personal circumstances don't allow you to do everything, they allow you to potentially do what you want to do, and Toucouille is a fantastic example of that.”

“I truly think he's someone that showcases greatness both on and off the rift,” Pennica said.

The story of Toucouille — a tale of broken bones yet an unbroken will — will forever be inspiring.