Seventeen Year Old Frederick Gappy Builds Life Around Sea, Sports, and Study
VICTORIA, Seychelles — Frederick Gappy, a 17-year-old from Au Cap with autism, has emerged as one of the most recognisable young faces in Seychellois para-sport, with a silver medal from the 2023 Indian Ocean Islands Games in Madagascar and a clear dream of one day working for NASA. A long profile this week traces the family’s 17-year journey with him, from a quiet baby who did not cry to a determined young man who now swims, studies, and writes poetry. The piece is, in many ways, a story about how a family learned to read its son.
Frederick’s mother, Claire Gappy, said she first suspected something was different in his earliest days at daycare, when the staff pointed out that he was not reaching the usual milestones. A consultation with a childminder confirmed the concern, and the family began the long search for the right school. Frederick was eventually diagnosed with autism, and the family negotiated an extra year in creche to help him settle, a precedent that Mrs Gappy said has since benefited other autistic children in the system.
Schooling was a long negotiation. Mrs Gappy recalled standing in the school compound every morning until 10am until a teacher, Letimie Coralie, and a colleague agreed to take Frederick into their class. Mrs Gappy then accompanied him daily, with the agreement of the ministry. The adaptation period, she said, was the hardest part, but Frederick’s capacity became clear. He completed creche, primary, and his first communion, and the family home was redecorated room by room to support his learning. They used flashcards, colour-coded walls, and a living room converted into a classroom.
The breakthrough came through the sea. Mrs Gappy took Frederick swimming from a young age. One Sunday, on a family fishing trip, he caught a fish and shouted “fish” in his first real word. From that point on, the family took him to the water every day, and Frederick began to speak. He went on to join public school, to compete in regional swimming events, and to win a silver medal at the 2023 Indian Ocean Islands Games. His coach, Robert Suzette, has been with him for the last three years.
Frederick is now in Secondary 5 and spends his time between studies, swimming, video games, classic music, and dance. He also writes poetry. He had a clear message for other children with the same condition: keep doing sports, keep studying, and keep working. On Christmas Eve last month, a small explosion at the family home displaced the household and left Frederick without his usual sleep pattern. The family is now fundraising for the repairs.
