Michel Bernard

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameMichel Pierre Ghislain•Bernard
Used nameMichel•Bernard
Nick/petnamesLe Chinois d'Anzin
Born31 December 1931 in Sepmeries, Nord (FRA)
Died14 February 2019 in Anzin, Nord (FRA)
Measurements181 cm / 68 kg
AffiliationsAS Anzin, Anzin (FRA)
NOC France

Biography

Raised by his mother after his father was killed in World War II, Michel Bernard became one of the top French middle- and long-distance runners in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He competed in three events at the 1960 and 1964 Olympics, oddly finishing in seventh place in all three. Bernard was a nine-time French Champion on the track, winning the 1,500 metres in 1955 and 1959, the 5,000 metres in 1958-60 and 1962, and the 10,000 metres in 1961 and 1964-65. He also won the French cross-country title in 1958 and 1961. He was a 15-time champion regionally in cross-country. Bernard also added national titles in Britain, winning the 1961 AAA mile, and the United States, taking the 1963 AAU 3-mile indoor championship. Bernard competed internationally 67 times for France.

Against the record books, Bernard set one world record, in the 4x1500 metre relay with a French team that recorded 15:04.2 at Versailles on 28 June 1961. He set five French records at distances between 2,000 and 5,000 metres, and set European indoor records in the 2- and 3-mile in New York in 1963.

After retiring from competition Bernard became involved in athletics administration, serving as president of the Fédération française d’athlétisme between 1985 and 1987. He also became interested in local politics, and in 2001 founded Anzin pour tous, a tourism group in his native region of France. He was made a Chevalier of the Légion d’honneur and was made an officer in the Order of National Merit.

Personal Bests: 1500 – 3:38.7 (1963); 5000 – 13:40.0 (1971).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1960 Summer Olympics Athletics FRA Michel Bernard
1,500 metres, Men (Olympic) 7
5,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 7
1964 Summer Olympics Athletics FRA Michel Bernard
1,500 metres, Men (Olympic) 7