Christophe Lemaitre facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Christophe Lemaitre

Lemaitre during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro
Personal information
Born	(1990-06-11) 11 June 1990 (age 35) Annecy, France
Height	1.90 m
Weight	82 kg
Sport
Country	France
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	100 metres, 200 m
Club	Athlétique Sport Aixois
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	100 m: 9.92 (Albi 2011) 200 m: 19.80 NR (Daegu 2011)
Medal record Men's athletics Representing  France Olympic Games Bronze 2012 London 4 × 100 m relay Bronze 2016 Rio de Janeiro 200 m World Championships Silver 2011 Daegu 4 × 100 m relay Bronze 2011 Daegu 200 m European Championships Gold 2010 Barcelona 100 m Gold 2010 Barcelona 200 m Gold 2010 Barcelona 4 × 100 m relay Gold 2012 Helsinki 100 m Silver 2014 Zürich 100 m Silver 2014 Zürich 200 m Bronze 2012 Helsinki 4 × 100 m relay Bronze 2014 Zürich 4 × 100 m relay European Indoor Championships Bronze 2011 Paris 60 m World Junior Championships Gold 2008 Bydgoszcz 200 m European Junior Championships Gold 2009 Novi Sad 100 m Representing Europe Continental Cup Gold 2010 Split 100 m Silver 2014 Marrakech 4 × 100 m relay

Christophe Lemaitre, born on June 11, 1990, is a famous French sprinter. He was known for running very fast in races like the 100 and 200 meters. In 2010, Christophe made history by becoming the first white athlete to run the 100-meter race in under 10 seconds! This was a huge achievement in the world of sprinting. He ran the 100 meters in under 10 seconds seven times in total, showing how incredibly fast he was.

He won bronze medals at the Olympic Games: one in 2012 for the 4x100 meter relay and another in 2016 for the 200 meters. When he was just 20 years old, Christophe won three gold medals at the 2010 European Championships in athletics! He won the 100m, 200m, and the 4x100m relay, which was a first for any French sprinter. He was the fastest European sprinter in both the 100m and 200m races that year. He also earned a bronze medal in the 200m at the 2011 World Championships. He was one of only three French sprinters to ever run the 100 meters in under 10 seconds.

Christophe Lemaitre did not compete in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo because of an injury. He announced his retirement from sprinting in June 2024.

Christophe Lemaitre's Journey in Athletics

Early Life and Discovering Sprinting Talent

Christophe Lemaitre grew up in Annecy, France. As a kid, he enjoyed playing different sports like handball, rugby, and football. It wasn't until he was 15 years old, in 2005, that his amazing speed was noticed during national sprinting events. He ran the fastest 50 meters in the country!

Just a month after his 16th birthday in 2006, Christophe joined an athletics club in Aix-les-Bains. In less than a year, he ran the 100 meters in 10.96 seconds. By 2007, his personal best time improved to 10.53 seconds.

Rising Star: 2008–2009 Achievements

In 2008, Christophe continued to improve, setting a new personal best of 10.26 seconds in the 100 meters. He also won the 200-meter title at the 2008 World Junior Championships in Athletics with a time of 20.83 seconds.

The next year, at the 2009 European Athletics Junior Championships, Christophe won a gold medal in the 100 meters. He set a new European junior record by running it in 10.04 seconds. For all his achievements in 2009, he was given the European Athletics Rising Star of the Year Award.

Making History: 2010 European Champion

Lemaitre after winning his medals in Barcelona.

The year 2010 was a huge one for Christophe. He started the outdoor season strong, running 10.09 seconds in Aix-les-Bains. In May 2010, he set a new personal best of 10.03 seconds in the 100 meters.

On July 9, 2010, Christophe Lemaitre officially became the first man of European descent to run the 100 meters in under 10 seconds! He clocked an incredible 9.98 seconds at the French National Championships in Valence. This also broke the French national record of 9.99 seconds. Christophe said that breaking the 10-second barrier was his goal, and it was about making history for himself through hard work, not about skin color. The very next day, he also matched the French national record for the 200 meters with a time of 20.16 seconds.

100 m final at the 2010 European Athletics Championships in Barcelona.

At the 2010 European Athletics Championships, Christophe won the gold medal in the 100 meters with a time of 10.11 seconds. The next day, he became a double European champion by winning the 200 meters final in 20.37 seconds. He then joined his teammates Jimmy Vicaut, Pierre-Alexis Pessonneaux, and Martial Mbandjock to win the gold medal in the 4x100 meter relay. Later that year, he improved his personal best in the 100 meters even further, running 9.97 seconds at a meeting in Rieti, Italy.

World Championships Success: 2011 Medals

Lemaitre at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics in Daegu.

In 2011, Christophe continued to break his own national record in the 100 meters. He ran 9.96 seconds in June, then 9.95 seconds, and finally an amazing 9.92 seconds at the French National Championships in Albi. This made him one of the fastest sprinters of non-West African descent.

At the 2011 World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, Christophe reached the final of the 100 meters, finishing fourth. On September 3, he won the bronze medal in the 200 meters with a time of 19.80 seconds. This was a new French national record, much faster than his previous best! In this race, he became the second-fastest European 200m sprinter ever and the first white man to run both the 100 meters in under 10 seconds and the 200 meters in under 20 seconds. The next day, Christophe and his relay team won the silver medal in the 4x100 meters relay.

Olympic Bronze in London: 2012 Games

For the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Christophe decided to focus on the 200 meters and the 4x100 meter relay. He finished sixth in the 200 meters final. However, in the 4x100 meter relay final, Christophe and his team won their first Olympic medal, taking the bronze!

European Championships: 2014 Medals

At the 2014 European Athletics Championships, Christophe won three more medals. He earned silver medals in both the 100 meters and 200 meters races. He then added a bronze medal in the 4x100 meter relay. This brought his total to a record eight medals at the European Championships!

Rio Olympics Bronze: 2016 Games

Christophe Lemaitre at the Meeting de Paris several days after having won the 200 m bronze medal at the Olympics in Rio.

After a challenging 2015 season, Christophe trained hard for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. He didn't make the 100-meter final, but he did qualify for the 200-meter final. In a very close race, Christophe won the bronze medal in the 200 meters final with a time of 20.12 seconds. He was just 3 milliseconds ahead of another runner, and the medal was decided by a photo finish! This made him the first French athlete to win a medal in this event since 1960.

Later Career and Retirement

Christophe continued to compete in the 2017 World Championships, reaching the semi-finals of the 200 meters. In 2018, he faced an injury to his right hamstring, which kept him from competing in the European Championships.

In 2019, Christophe focused on the 4x100 meter relay at the 2019 World Athletics Championships. However, his team had a problem during the race and did not finish.

Leading up to the 2020 Summer Olympics (held in 2021), Christophe struggled with injuries. He announced his retirement from competitive sprinting in June 2024, after a long and successful career.

Awards and Recognition

Christophe Lemaitre received many awards for his achievements. He won the 2010 men's European Athlete of the Year Trophy. He was also named the 2010 L'Équipe Champion of Champions (France category) by a famous French sports newspaper.

When Christophe first ran the 100 meters in under 10 seconds in 2010, it was such big news that L'Équipe put him on their front page, even though the Tour de France cycling race was happening at the same time! In 2010, he ran faster than some former world record holders and champions did at his age. He also took second place for the 2011 men's European Athlete of the Year Trophy.

Personal Life and Studies

Besides his amazing sprinting career, Christophe Lemaitre also studied at the University of Savoy. He worked towards a professional bachelor's degree in industrial electrical engineering and computer science.

Christophe Lemaitre's Best Times

Event	Time	Wind	Venue	Date
60 metres indoor	6.55		Aubière	13 February 2010
100 metres	9.92	+2.0 m/s	Albi	29 July 2011
200 metres	19.80 NR	+0.8 m/s	Daegu	3 September 2011
200 metres indoor	20.43		Aubière	28 February 2016

Key: NR = National record

See also

In Spanish: Christophe Lemaitre para niños