Biography
General Interest
Hobbies
Alpine skiing, surfing. (Facebook page, 24 Sep 2016)
Injuries
A fall from his mountain bike in 2002 resulted in a fractured arm. (lequipe.fr, 01 Dec 2007)
Awards and honours
He was selected to be the French team's flagbearer at the 2008 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony in Beijing. (Le Monde, 29 Apr 2008)
Famous relatives
His father Henri was also a canoeist for France [he won silver and bronze medals in the Wildwater Canoeing World Championships in the late 1970s]. His brother Patrice won a bronze medal in the C1 slalom at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. (NOC Media Guide, 2004)
Other information
RETIREMENT
In November 2012, after winning his third Olympic title in London, he announced his retirement on his Twitter account. "I'm hanging up my boat. Retirement at 34 years of age. Thanks to my family, my partners and to all my supporters for this beautiful journey." (Twitter profile, 04 Dec 2012)
PARIS PLANS
He has served as the vice president of the International Olympic Committee Athlete's Commission and is a co-director of Paris' bid for the 2024 Olympic Games, something that he is passionate about. "I spent 20 years of my life with some butterflies in my stomach, to put myself in danger, to become the Olympic champion with a very low probability. And here I have the same challenge, to win." (Twitter profile, 02 Oct 2016; franceinter.fr, 21 Aug 2016; lefigaro.fr, 17 Feb 2016)
In November 2012, after winning his third Olympic title in London, he announced his retirement on his Twitter account. "I'm hanging up my boat. Retirement at 34 years of age. Thanks to my family, my partners and to all my supporters for this beautiful journey." (Twitter profile, 04 Dec 2012)
PARIS PLANS
He has served as the vice president of the International Olympic Committee Athlete's Commission and is a co-director of Paris' bid for the 2024 Olympic Games, something that he is passionate about. "I spent 20 years of my life with some butterflies in my stomach, to put myself in danger, to become the Olympic champion with a very low probability. And here I have the same challenge, to win." (Twitter profile, 02 Oct 2016; franceinter.fr, 21 Aug 2016; lefigaro.fr, 17 Feb 2016)
International Debut
Year
1995
Competing for
France
Tournament
World Cup
Location
Slovenia
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?
He began paddling when he was about five in Pau, France. As a 14-year-old spectator at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, he watched his coach Slyvain Curinier win a medal.
Why this sport?
His family was involved in the sport, notably his father Henri, and brothers Aldric and Patrice.
"I had a sportive childhood. My father and my brothers are all sports teachers, my brothers both elite sportsmen. My childhood was defined by sport and sporting holidays which gave me enormous pleasure: skiing in the winter, surfing in the summer, kayaking in Spain. The past twenty years have been like one big family sporting holiday. It's a lifestyle."
"I had a sportive childhood. My father and my brothers are all sports teachers, my brothers both elite sportsmen. My childhood was defined by sport and sporting holidays which gave me enormous pleasure: skiing in the winter, surfing in the summer, kayaking in Spain. The past twenty years have been like one big family sporting holiday. It's a lifestyle."
Further Personal Information
Date of birth
06 May 1978
Height
186 cm
Weight
75 kg
Marital status
Married
Family
Three children
Occupation
Sports Administrator
Languages
English, French
Higher education
Physical Education, Sports Marketing - INSEP: France
