Atlanta, 29 July 1996, Games of the XXVI Olympiad. Women's athletics: Frenchwoman Marie-José PEREC, eventual winner of the event, performs in the 400m final. Credit : Getty Images/PRIOR Gary M.Born: 9 May 1968
Birthplace: Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe (France)
Nationality: France
Sport: Athletics
ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Seoul 1988
Barcelona 1992
Atlanta 1996
Sydney 2000
AWARDS
Olympic medals:
Gold: 3
Other results:
World Championships
Gold: 2 (91, 95)
The First Runner to Win the 400m Twice
Marie-José Pérec was born on the island of Guadeloupe and moved to Paris when she was 16 years old. Recognizing her natural ability, coaches practically forced her to become a sprinter, and she represented France in the 200m at the 1988 Olympics. In 1991, she won a clear victory at 400m in the world championships. Pérec arrived at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics as the favourite in the 400m and she lived up to expectations.
Defending champion Olha Bryzhina led the field into the final straightaway, but Pérec used her long, graceful strides to pull away and win by almost two metres. Pérec continued to dominate the 400m between Olympics.
At the 1996 Atlanta Games, she won another clear victory and became the first runner of either sex to win the 400m twice. Three nights later, Pérec made history again. In the final of the 200m, she defeated Merlene Ottey of Jamaica by one metre to become the second runner to win both the 400m and the 200m.
