Bernard de Pourtalès facts for kids
The Lérina boat, gold and silver medal winner at the Olympic Games in 1900.
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 5 June 1870 Bellevue, Switzerland |
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| Died | 6 July 1935 (aged 65) Casablanca, French Morocco |
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| Sailing career | |||||||||||||||||
| Class(es) | 1 to 2 ton Open class |
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| Club | SN Genève | ||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Bernard Alexandre George Edmond de Pourtalès (born June 5, 1870 – died July 5, 1935) was a brave Swiss sailor and an army captain. He is best known for his amazing achievements at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, where he won both gold and silver medals in sailing.
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Bernard de Pourtalès: An Olympic Sailor
Bernard de Pourtalès was a talented sailor from Switzerland. He was also a captain in the army. His life took him from his birthplace in Switzerland to his final days in Morocco. But it was his time on the water that made him famous.
Early Life and Background
Bernard was born in Bellevue, Switzerland, on June 5, 1870. Not much is known about his early childhood. However, he grew up to become an infantry captain in the Swiss army. This means he was a leader in the foot soldiers. He also developed a great love for sailing.
Sailing to Olympic Glory
The year 1900 was very special for Bernard. He traveled to Paris, France, to compete in the 1900 Summer Olympics. This was a huge event for athletes from all over the world. Bernard was part of the Swiss sailing team. They sailed a boat named Lérina.
The Lérina competed in the "1 to 2 ton" class. This class was for boats of a certain size and weight. Bernard and his team showed incredible skill. They won the gold medal in the first race of this class. This was a fantastic achievement!
They didn't stop there. In the second race of the same "1 to 2 ton" class, the Lérina team won the silver medal. Winning both gold and silver in the same Olympic Games is very rare and impressive.
Bernard also took part in another event called the "open class." This race allowed boats of any size to compete. While he didn't finish this particular race, his performance in the 1 to 2 ton class was truly outstanding.
A Family Affair
What makes Bernard's Olympic story even more interesting is that he wasn't sailing alone. His uncle, Hermann de Pourtalès, and his uncle's wife, Hélène de Pourtalès, were also part of the Lérina crew. This means that three members of the same family sailed together to win Olympic medals! It was a real family effort.
Later Life
Bernard de Pourtalès passed away on July 5, 1935. He died in Casablanca, which was then part of French Morocco. His legacy as an Olympic medalist continues to inspire young sailors.
