Jean Boiteux

Jean Boiteux (20 June 1933 – 11 April 2010[2]) was a French freestyle swimmer. He competed at the 1952, 1956 and 1960 Olympics and won the 400 m event in 1952, breaking the Olympic record and becoming the first French swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal. During his career he won 15 national titles and set 15 national and 10 European records in the 200 m, 400 m, 1500 m and 4 × 200 m events.[1]

Jean Boiteux
Boiteux at the 1952 Olympics
Personal information
Born20 June 1933
Marseilles, France
Died11 April 2010 (aged 76)
Bordeaux, France
Height186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight83 kg (183 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
Event(s)freestyle
ClubDauphins du TOEC
JUS Oran
Girondins de Bordeaux
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)200 m – 2:08.3 (1956)
400 m – 4:29.0 (1956)
800 m – 9:38.2 (1952)
1500 m – 18:25.2 (1956)[1]
Medal record
Representing  France
Olympic Games
1952 Helsinki 400 m freestyle
1952 Helsinki 4×200 m freestyle
European Championships
1950 Vienna 400 m freestyle
1950 Vienna 1500 m freestyle
1950 Vienna 4×200 m freestyle
1954 Turin 4×200 m freestyle
Mediterranean Games
1951 Alexandria 400 m freestyle
1951 Alexandria 1500 m freestyle
1951 Alexandria 4×200 m freestyle
1955 Barcelona 400 m freestyle
1955 Barcelona 1500 m freestyle
1955 Barcelona 4×200 m freestyle

His mother Bienna Pélégry was also an Olympic swimmer. His father attended the 1952 Olympics and jumped in the swimming pool to congratulate his son after he won the 400 m race. In 1973 Boiteux founded the Jean-Boiteux Grand Prix swimming meet in Bordeaux.[3] He died after falling from a tree in his garden on 11 April 2010 at the age of 76.[4]

Boiteux with father at the 1952 Olympics

See also

References
  1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Jean Boiteux". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  2. (in French) Jean Boiteux n'est plus, lequipe.fr, 12 April 2010.
  3. (in French) Bordeaux : 409 nageurs dans le grand bain. Published by France 3 Aquitaine, 14 February 2014; retrieved 2014-02-14.
  4. "French Olympic swimming champion Boiteux dies at 76". Deutsche Presse-Agentur story. Monsters and Critics. 12 April 2010. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2010.

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