Nézière was born in 1878, and had two older brothers who would be painters and illustrators, Joseph de La Nézière and Raymond de La Nézière, he went to boarding school where he excelled in athletics, and was Paris schools cross country champion. In 1896 he was delegated to travel to Athens to participate in the 1896 Summer Olympics, he competed in the 800 metres, and even though he was still just 17 years old he managed to finish third in his heat, but unfortunately only the first two in each heat qualified for the final.