Alain Bernard
Biographical information
| Roles | Competed in Olympic Games |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Full name | Alain André Louis Edmond•Bernard |
| Used name | Alain•Bernard |
| Born | 1 May 1983 in Aubagne, Bouches-du-Rhône (FRA) |
| Measurements | 196 cm / 90 kg |
| Affiliations | CN Antibes, Antibes (FRA) |
| NOC |  France |
| Medals | OG |
| Gold | 2 |
| Silver | 1 |
| Bronze | 1 |
| Total | 4 |
Biography
Alain Bernard first came to prominence at the 2008 European Championships in Eindhoven. Not only did the Frenchman win three gold medals (50 and 100 metres, 4x100 relay - all freestyle), he also bettered the world record in both individual events, even twice for the blue ribbon event, the 100 metres. This performance made him a favorite for the Olympic gold in the freestyle sprint events. At first, Bernard disappointed, anchoring the French team in the 4x100 free relay final but losing the lead to the United States’ Jason Lezak in the final centimetres. Moreover, Eamon Sullivan (47.21) had taken Bernard’s world record in the opening leg of that race. Bernard grabbed it back (47.20) in the semi-finals of the individual 100 free, only to lose it again to Sullivan (47.05) in the second semi-final. The final was a close showdown between the Australian and the Frenchman, with Bernard winning. Adding a bronze medal in the 50 freestyle, Bernard left Beijing with a full set of Olympic medals.
Bernard repeated as European Champion in the 100 freestyle in 2010. He finished his career with 7 medals and 4 gold medals at the European Championships. At the 2012 Olympics, he helped France win the 4x100 free relay gold medal that had eluded them in Beijing. He also added a bronze medal in the 50 free at the 2011 World Championships, bringing his medal total at that meet to five, with two silvers and three bronze medals. Bernard set three world records in the 100 freestyle, twice at the 2008 Europeans and in winning the 2008 Olympic gold medal. He also set one world record in the 50 freestyle, that in the 2008 European Championships semi-final.
After his retirement from competition, Bernard was made an Officer of the French National Order of Merit and later became an Ambassador for UNICEF in Africa. He also served as an ambassador and technical advisor for the French AquaSphere swim equipment brand. Bernard was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2017.
Results
| Games | Discipline (Sport) / Event | NOC / Team | Pos | Medal | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Summer Olympics | Swimming (Aquatics) | FRA |
Alain Bernard | |||
| 50 metres Freestyle, Men (Olympic) | 3 | Bronze | ||||
| 100 metres Freestyle, Men (Olympic) | 1 | Gold | ||||
| 4 × 100 metres Freestyle Relay, Men (Olympic) | France | 2 | Silver | |||
| 2012 Summer Olympics | Swimming (Aquatics) | FRA |
Alain Bernard | |||
| 4 × 100 metres Freestyle Relay, Men (Olympic) | France | 1 | Gold |
Special Notes
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the Summer Universiade (1–0–0 2005 İzmir SWI gold: 4×100 m freestyle relay)
- Listed in Olympians Who Set a European Record in Long Course Swimming (50 m freestyle – 23 March 2008 - 26 April 2008: 21.50 (23 March 2008; Eindhoven, NED); 100 m freestyle – 21 March 2008 - 24 April 2009 and 30 July 2009 - 28 July 2021: 47.60 (21 March 2008; Eindhoven, NED), 47.50 (22 March 2008; Eindhoven, NED), 47.20 (13 August 2008; Beijing, CHN), 47.12 (30 July 2009; Roma, ITA); 4×100 m freestyle relay – 19 June 2008 - 10 August 2008 and 11 August 2008 - present: 3:12.54 (19 June 2008; Paris, FRA), 3:08.32 (11 August 2008; Beijing, CHN))
- Listed in Olympians Who Set a European Record in Short Course Swimming (100 m freestyle – 7 December 2008 - 12 December 2008: 45.69 (7 December 2008; Angers, FRA); 4×50 m freestyle relay – 14 December 2008 - present: 1:22.38 (14 December 2008; Rijeka, CRO), 1:20.77 (14 December 2008; Rijeka, CRO); 4×100 m freestyle relay – 15 December 2010 - 3 December 2014: 3:04.78 (15 December 2010; Dubai, UAE))
- Listed in Olympians Who Set a World Record in Long Course Swimming (50 m freestyle – 23 March 2008 - 27 March 2008: 21.50 (23 March 2008; Eindhoven, NED); 100 m freestyle – 21 March 2008 - 11 August 2008 and 13 August 2008: 47.60 (21 March 2008; Eindhoven, NED), 47.50 (22 March 2008; Eindhoven, NED), 47.20 (13 August 2008; Beijing, CHN))
- Listed in Olympians Who Set a World Record in Short Course Swimming (100 m freestyle – 7 December 2008 - 12 December 2008: 45.69 (7 December 2008; Angers, FRA))
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the European Aquatics Championships (4–2–1 2006 Budapest SWM bronze: 4×100 m freestyle relay; 2008 Eindhoven SWM gold: 50 m freestyle and 100 m freestyle; 2010 Budapest SWM gold: 100 m freestyle, silver: 4×100 m freestyle relay; 2012 Debrecen SWM gold: 4×100 m freestyle relay, silver: 100 m freestyle)
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the European Swimming Championships (25 m) (3–3–2 2004 Wien gold: 4×50 m freestyle relay; 2005 Trieste silver: 4×50 m freestyle relay; 2006 Helsinki silver: 4×50 m freestyle relay, bronze: 100 m freestyle; 2007 Debrecen gold: 100 m freestyle, silver: 4×50 m freestyle relay, bronze: 50 m freestyle; 2008 Rijeka gold: 4×50 m freestyle relay)
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Aquatics Championships (0–2–3 2007 Melbourne SWI bronze: 4×100 m freestyle relay; 2009 Roma SWI silver: 100 m freestyle, bronze: 4×100 m freestyle relay; 2011 Shanghai SWI silver: 4×100 m freestyle relay, bronze: 50 m freestyle)
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Short-Course Swimming Championships (25 m) (1–0–0 2010 Dubai gold: 4×100 m freestyle relay)
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the Mediterranean Games (3–1–0 2005 Almería SWI gold: 4×100 m freestyle relay; 2009 Pescara SWI gold: 100 m freestyle and 4×100 m freestyle relay, silver: 50 m freestyle)