Marie-José Pérec

**Marie-José Pérec** (born 9 May 1968) be retired French track den field sprinter wey specialised insyd de 200 den 400 metres wey she be three-time Olympic gold medalist. Na dem born am insyd de French overseas department of Guadeloupe wey she move go Paris wen na she be 16 years old.

## Athletics career

Pérec first represent France insyd de 200 metres event for de 1988 Summer Olympics insyd Seoul, wey she reach de quarter-finals. She win de 400 metres world title for de 1991 World Championships insyd Tokyo wey she repeat de feat for de 1995 World Championships insyd Gothenburg. She win ein first Olympic gold medal insyd de 400 metres event for de 1992 Summer Olympics insyd Barcelona.

She enter de 200 metres den 400 metres events for de 1996 Atlanta Games wey she win both, wey she achieve de second-ever Olympic 200 metres/400 metres gold medal double, after Valerie Brisco-Hooks insyd Los Angeles 1984. Pérec win de 400 metres title insyd Olympic record time of 48.25 seconds, wich rank am as de third-fastest woman of all time. E take anoda 23 years before Salwa Eid Naser, insyd October 2019, surpass ein mark make e demote Pérec to fourth insyd de list of world ein fastest-ever female 400-metre sprinters.

For addition to ein Olympic den World titles, Pérec win de 400 metres title wey na she be part of de gold medal-winning 4 × 400 metres relay team for de 1994 European Championships insyd Helsinki. Na de two 1996 Olympic golds be Pérec ein last international titles. Insyd 1997, she shift to de 200 metres buh she withdraw for de semi-finals stage insyd de World Championships dat year after she sustain thigh muscle injury while she dey warm up. Na dem diagnose am plus glandular fever insyd March 1998, den de long recovery force am make she take time out from competitions til de year wey dey follow.

For 8 July 2000, she no run 400 metres race since 1996, Pérec begin ein Olympic title defence by she fini third insyd Nice (for de Nikaia meeting of de 2000 IAAF Grand Prix), behind eventual Olympic silver den bronze medalists Lorraine Graham den Katharine Merry. Na dis be de last significant race Pérec take part insyd. For 22 September 2000, she pull out of de 200 metres den 400 metres events of de 2000 Sydney Games, several days before na dem be due make dem start. Pérec claim say na dem threaten den diss am chaw times since she arrive insyd Australia wey de local press, wey na dem dey support Australian athlete Cathy Freeman, na dem dey try make dem sabotage ein chances of make she win 400 metres gold.

Pérec train insyd Los Angeles plus de HSI track team wey dem list am as legend for de team ein page top. She officially retire from competitive athletics insyd June 2004 for de age of 36.

## Life after retirement from athletics

Pérec enroll insyd de top French business school ESSEC wey she graduate insyd 2007 plus Master's insyd Sports Management.

She be member of de 'Champions for Peace' club, group of more dan 70 famous elite athletes wey commit make dem dey promote peace insyd de world thru sports, Peace and Sport, Monaco-based international organisation create am.

For 21 October 2012, na dem elect Pérec presido of de Ligue Régionale d'Athlétisme de la Guadeloupe, de governing body give athletics insyd Guadeloupe.

Pérec participate insyd de French reality music competition *Mask Singer* as de Red Panther, wey dey perform Stromae ein "Papaoutai" den Angèle ein "Balance ton quoi" before dem eliminate am insyd de first episode.

For 26 July 2024, Pérec den judoka Teddy Riner light de Olympic cauldron for de 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony insyd Paris.

## Family

Pérec ein partner be French freestyle skier Sébastien Foucras. Dem get one kiddie, son dem name am Nolan, born for 30 March 2010.

## Awards

Na dem choose Pérec as de French Champion of Champions insyd 1992 den 1996 by de French sports daily *L'Équipe*.

For 9 October 2013, na dem award am de Officier de la Légion d'honneur by French Presido François Hollande insyd de Élysée Palace. Just before he dey present de insignia to Pérec during de award ceremony, Hollande describe am as "one of the most brilliant athletes in the history of French athletics". Na she receive de Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur insyd 1996.

Na dem induct Pérec into de IAAF Hall of Fame insyd November 2013.

## Personal bests

*Rankings outsyd de brackets be world rankings
*Rankings insyd de brackets be European
*FR = French record
*OR = Olympic record

## References


## External links
Wikimedia Commons get media wey relate to ******.

* Marie-José Pérec at World Athletics 
* Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Marie-José Pérec". *Olympics at Sports-Reference.com*. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2018.