Jean Boiteux

Jean Boiteux was the first Frenchman to win a swimming gold medal at the Olympics, when he won the 1952 400 metre freestyle. He also won bronze in the 4×200 freestyle relay in Helsinki. He was a 15-time French champion, winning the 200 metre freestyle five times (1951-52, 1955-56, 1958), the 400 metre freestyle six times (1950-52, 1953, 1956, 1958), and the 1,500 metre freestyle four times (1950-51, 1956, 1958). In his career he set 15 French records and 10 European records. Boiteux’s Olympic gold medal was won in his only individual world record, although in 1951 he helped France set a world record in the 4×200 free relay in Marseille (with Jo Bernardo, Alex Jany, and the non-Olympian Willy Blioch). At the European Championships, Boiteux starred in 1950, winning gold in the 400 and 1,500 metres and the 800 relay. He also won the 400 metre freestyle at the Mediterranean Games in both 1951 and 1955. A famous picture of Boiteux occurred after the Helsinki gold medal when his father jumped in the water to congratulate him. Boiteux swam for the Dauphins du TOEC (Toulouse Olympiques Employé Club). He died tragically when he was pruning some tree limbs and fell to his death.

Personal Bests: 200 free – 2:08.3 (1956); 400 free – 4:29.0 (1956); 800 free – 9:38.2 (1952); 1500 free – 18:25.2 (1956).