Jean Boiteux

Jean Boiteux, who lived from 20 June 1933 to 11 April 2010, was a French freestyle swimmer who competed at the 1952, 1956 and 1960 Olympics. He won the 400 metre freestyle at the 1952 Games, breaking the Olympic record and becoming the first French swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal. During his career he won 15 national titles and set 15 national and 10 European records in the 200 metre, 400 metre, 1500 metre and 4 by 200 metre events. His mother, Bienna Pélégry, was also an Olympic swimmer, and his father attended the 1952 Olympics and jumped into the pool to congratulate him after the 400 metre win. In 1973 Boiteux founded the Jean-Boiteux Grand Prix swimming meet in Bordeaux. He died in 2010 at the age of 76 after falling from a tree in his garden.