Alain Bernard

Alain Bernard is a French former swimmer from Aubagne, born on 1 May 1983. He won four Olympic medals at the 2008 and 2012 Games: two golds, a silver and a bronze. In Beijing in 2008 he won the 100 metre freestyle after setting a long course world record of 47.20 seconds in the semi-finals, becoming only the second Frenchman to win Olympic swimming gold after Jean Boiteux in 1952, and he took bronze in the 50 metre freestyle. He also won silver in the 4x100 metre freestyle relay, where the American Jason Lezak caught him in the final metres. His second gold came in London in 2012 as a heat swimmer in the winning French 4x100 metre freestyle relay. He formerly held world records in the 50 and 100 metre freestyle, retired shortly after London, and has served as a volunteer in the Gendarmerie since 2008.