Camille Lacourt facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Camille Lacourt

Personal information
Born	(1985-04-22) 22 April 1985 (age 39) Narbonne, France
Height	2.00 m
Weight	85 kg
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Backstroke
Club	CN Marseille
Medal record Men's sport Representing France World Championships (LC) Gold 2011 Shanghai 100 m backstroke Gold 2013 Barcelona 50 m backstroke Gold 2013 Barcelona 4×100 m medley Gold 2015 Kazan 50 m backstroke Gold 2017 Budapest 50 m backstroke Silver 2011 Shanghai 50 m backstroke Silver 2015 Kazan 100 m backstroke Bronze 2015 Kazan 4×100 m medley World Championships (SC) Silver 2010 Dubai 100 m backstroke European Championships (LC) Gold 2010 Budapest 50 m backstroke Gold 2010 Budapest 100 m backstroke Gold 2010 Budapest 4×100 m medley Gold 2016 London 50 m backstroke Gold 2016 London 100 m backstroke European Championships (SC) Silver 2013 Herning 100 m backstroke

Camille Lacourt (French pronunciation: [kamij lakuʁ]; born 22 April 1985) is a retired French competitive swimmer and backstroke specialist. He won the 50 metre backstroke at three consecutive world championships (2013 Barcelona, 2015 Kazan, and 2017 Budapest). He competed at the 2012 Olympics in the 100 metre backstroke and finished fourth. In the 2016 Rio Olympics, he finished fifth in the same event.

Swimming career

2010: breakthrough year

Lacourt collected three gold medal at the European Championships. He became European Champion in the 100 m backstroke (long course) ahead of compatriot Jérémy Stravius in a time of 52.11. This time was a new European record and the second fastest time ever, second to Aaron Peirsol's 51.94 from 2009. He collected the 50 m backstroke title in a time of 24.07, also bumping him up to the second fastest performer of all time in that event. On the final night, he collected gold in the 4 × 100 m medley relay.

Following years

Lacourt collected a series of medals at the World Championships in the following years: one gold and one silver in 2011 in Shanghai, two gold in 2013 in Barcelona, and one of each medal in 2015 in Kazan. He finished 4th in the 100 metre backstroke at the 2012 Summer Olympics and failed to win any medals. After missing the 2014 European Championships due to a hip injury, he won two golds at the 2016 European Championships.

Lacourt failed to win any medals at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Following his 5th-place finish in the 100 meter backstroke, Lacourt made international news after criticizing the sport of swimming and making disparaging remarks about Chinese swimmer Sun Yang. In a post-race interview with French radio station RMCsport, Lacourt said: "I am very sad when I see my sport getting like this. I have the impression I am looking at athletics, with two or three doped in each final. I hope that FINA is going to react and stop this massacre, because it is getting sad." After being defeated by another Chinese swimmer, Xu Jiayu, who won the silver medal in the 100 meter backstroke, Lacourt said, "I don't like being beaten by a Chinese."

Lacourt won his third consecutive gold medal in the 50 m backstroke at the 2017 World Championships. He then announced his retirement later in 2017.

Personal life

Lacourt was married to Valérie Bègue, who won Miss France 2008. He is the father of a girl, Jazz, born in October 2012. Lacourt and Bègue divorced in 2016.

Personal bests (long course)

Lacourt in 2012

See also

In Spanish: Camille Lacourt para niños

• List of French records in swimming