Philippe Boccara

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full namePhilippe•Boccara
Used namePhilippe•Boccara
Born6 July 1959 in Le Mans, Sarthe (FRA)
Measurements203 cm / 93 kg
AffiliationsBesançon
NOC France United States
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 0
Bronze 1
Total 1

Biography

Philippe Boccara was a French-born canoeist who competed at six Olympic Games, four for France and two for the United States. Boccara competed for France in 1980, 1984, 1988, and 1992, and for the USA at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics. He won a bronze medal in 1984 at Los Angeles in the K-4 events, representing France. Boccara was the first Olympic canoeist to compete in six Olympics. Notably, as of 2016, every Olympic canoeist who competed in six or more Olympics did it while representing two different nations. He was also the first French-born athlete to compete in six Olympic Games.

Boccara won six medals at the Flatwater Canoeing World Championships between 1985-91, all while competing for France. He won World golds in the 1985 K-2 1000 m, the 1987 K-2 1000 m, the 1990 K-1 10K, and the 1991 K-2 10K. He also won one international bronze medal at the 1991 Mediterranean Games in the K-2 1000 metres.

Boccara came to the USA in the late 1980s and trained as a chiropractor. After the Atlanta Olympics he stayed in the US, obtained USA citizenship, and opened a chiropractic practice at Wellness for Life Chiropractic in Costa Mesa, California.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1980 Summer Olympics Canoe Sprint (Canoeing) FRA Philippe Boccara
Kayak Fours, 1,000 metres, Men (Olympic) France 6
1984 Summer Olympics Canoe Sprint (Canoeing) FRA Philippe Boccara
Kayak Singles, 1,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 6
Kayak Fours, 1,000 metres, Men (Olympic) France 3 Bronze
1988 Summer Olympics Canoe Sprint (Canoeing) FRA Philippe Boccara
Kayak Singles, 1,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 3 h1 r3/4
Kayak Doubles, 1,000 metres, Men (Olympic) Pascal Boucherit AC h1 r3/4
1992 Summer Olympics Canoe Sprint (Canoeing) FRA Philippe Boccara
Kayak Doubles, 1,000 metres, Men (Olympic) Pascal Boucherit 5 h1 r3/4
1996 Summer Olympics Canoe Sprint (Canoeing) USA Philippe Boccara
Kayak Fours, 1,000 metres, Men (Olympic) United States 6 h1 r2/3
2000 Summer Olympics Canoe Sprint (Canoeing) USA Philippe Boccara
Kayak Doubles, 1,000 metres, Men (Olympic) Cliff Meidl 9 h2 r1/3

Special Notes