Jo Bernardo

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameJoseph "Jo"•Bernardo Garcia Rodriguez Marinelli
Used nameJo•Bernardo
Born31 May 1929 in Al-Jaza'ir (Algiers), Al-Jaza'ir (ALG)
Died6 December 2023
AffiliationsDauphins du TOEC, Toulouse (FRA)
NOC France
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 0
Bronze 2
Total 2

Biography

Jo Bernardo took up swimming at a young age, but World War II interrupted his career and thus he had to wait to until the 1948 London Olympics to make his international début. There, he won a bronze medal in the 4x200 metres freestyle relay, with René Cornu, Henri Padou, Jr., and Alex Jany, and was eliminated in round one and the semifinals of the 400 and 1,500 metres freestyle events respectively. The following year he won his first national championship, in the 1,500 meters, and set national records in that event, as well as the 800 metres. He then took silver behind Sweden in the 4x200 metres freestyle relay, alongside Jany, Jean Boiteux, and the non-Olympian Willy Blioch at the 1950 European Championships, where he also captured bronze in the 1,500 metres. The following year, this quartet set a world record of 8 minutes, 33 seconds in the 4x200 metres relay and won a gold medal at the 1951 Mediterranean Games. Individually, Bernardo took silver in the 400 and 1,500 metres events at this tournament.

In 1952, Bernardo again won the 1,500 metres French title and travelled to that year’s Olympics in Helsinki. There, he defended his bronze medal with Jany, Boiteux, and Aldo Eminente, came in fifth in the 1,500 metres, and was eliminated in the semifinals of the 400 metres. The next year, Bernardo was national champion in the 400 and 1,500 metres, and repeated the latter feat in 1954, but could only manage sixth at that year’s European Championships. He retired from active competition after the tournament and later worked as a sports administrator.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1948 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) FRA Jo Bernardo
400 metres Freestyle, Men (Olympic) 4 h2 r1/3
1,500 metres Freestyle, Men (Olympic) 5 h2 r2/3
4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay, Men (Olympic) France 3 Bronze
1952 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) FRA Jo Bernardo
400 metres Freestyle, Men (Olympic) 19
1,500 metres Freestyle, Men (Olympic) 5
4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay, Men (Olympic) France 3 Bronze

Special Notes