Claire Michel facts for kids
Claire Michel in the triathlon at the 2024 Olympics in Paris
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| Personal information | |
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| Nationality | Belgian, American |
| Born | 13 October 1988 Brussels, Belgium |
| Education | University of Oregon, Solvay Business School |
| Height | 168 cm (5 ft 6 in) |
| Weight | 54 kilograms (119 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Country | Belgium |
| Sport | Triathlon |
| Club | Brussels Triathlon Club (BTC) |
| Turned pro | 2015 |
Claire Michel is a professional triathlete from Belgium. She was born in Brussels on October 13, 1988. Claire is a very successful athlete. She won a silver medal at the Aquathlon World Championships in 2013. She was also named the best female triathlete in Belgium twice, in 2014 and 2015. Claire represented Belgium at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. She also became the Belgian Champion in the Sprint distance triathlon in 2016.
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About Claire Michel
Claire was born in Brussels, Belgium. Her parents are Belgian. Her mother, Colette Crabbé, was also an athlete. She swam for Belgium in the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games.
When Claire was one year old, her family moved to Oregon in the United States. She went to the University of Oregon and earned a degree in 2011. After that, she moved back to Belgium. She worked in Brussels and continued her studies. In 2014, she completed a special master's degree at the Solvay Business School. Today, Claire lives in Brussels and competes for the Brussels Triathlon Club.
Claire's Sports Journey
Claire started her sports career when she was 12 years old. She was inspired by her mother, who competed in swimming. At 14, Claire also began competing in cross-country running and track and field. She quickly became one of the best young athletes in Oregon.
She earned a scholarship to join the athletic team at the University of Oregon. There, she set a school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. She even placed 8th in a big national championship in 2011. Unfortunately, an injury stopped her from trying out for the 2012 London Olympic Games.
In 2012, Claire decided to try triathlon. This sport combines swimming, biking, and running. She joined the Brussels Triathlon Club. In her first year, she became the Belgian Champion in the Sprint distance. The next year, she competed in five international events. She won a silver medal at the ITU Aquathlon World Championships in London.
Becoming a Professional Triathlete
In 2014, Claire competed in major triathlon races around the world. She finished 3rd in a World Cup race in Chengdu. She also placed 6th in Yokohama. She ended the year as the top female Belgian triathlete. Because of her great results, she was named "Athlete of the Year" for 2014 in Belgium.
In 2015, Claire became a professional triathlete. She had some tough luck with injuries that year. She crashed her bike in one race and sprained her foot in another. These injuries made her miss some important races. They also affected her chances of qualifying for the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Despite the setbacks, she kept fighting. She finished 8th at the First European Games in Baku. Even though she was injured again, she came back strong. She finished 9th in a World Cup race in Cozumel. These strong finishes helped her climb the rankings. She secured her spot for the Rio 2016 Olympics! She was also named "Athlete of the Year" again in 2015.
Olympic Challenges
The 2016 Olympic year started slowly for Claire. She struggled in some early races. But then, in Chengdu, she won a silver medal! This was her best finish yet. She qualified for the Olympics in Rio.
At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, things didn't go as planned. Claire was disqualified during the bike leg of the race. This was a big disappointment. After the Olympics, Claire decided to train even harder for the next games. She moved to San Diego to work with a new coach.
Claire Michel's Race Results
Here are some of Claire Michel's results from international races:
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Silver
Bronze
Gold
See also
- In Spanish: Claire Michel para niños
