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, born on October 13, 1988, in Brussels, Belgium, is a fantastic professional triathlete. A triathlete competes in three sports: swimming, cycling, and running. Claire was the vice-World Champion in Aquathlon in 2013. Aquathlon is a sport that combines swimming and running.
She was named Belgium's Female Athlete of the Year for triathlon twice, in 2014 and 2015. Claire was also part of the National Team and represented Belgium at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. In 2016, she became the Belgian Champion in the Sprint distance triathlon.
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About Claire Michel
Claire Michel was born in Brussels, Belgium. Her parents are Belgian. Her mother, Colette Crabbé, was also a talented athlete. She represented Belgium in swimming at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games.
Claire's Education and Home
When Claire was just one year old, her family moved to Oregon in the United States. She studied at the University of Oregon and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 2011. After finishing her studies, she moved back to Belgium.
In Belgium, she worked at the American Chamber of Commerce in Brussels. She also continued her education. In 2014, she completed a special master's degree. It was in "Innovation and Strategic Management" at the Solvay Business School. Today, Claire lives in Brussels. She represents the Brussels Triathlon Club, also known as BTC.
Claire's Sports Journey
Claire's sports journey began when she was 12 years old. She read about her mother competing in the Olympics. This inspired her to start swimming for her high school team.
Early Athletic Success
By age 14, Claire also started competing in cross-country running and track and field. She quickly became one of the best young athletes in Oregon in both sports. Her amazing results earned her a scholarship to join the athletic team at the University of Oregon.
While at the university, she set a new school record. This was in the 3,000-meter steeplechase race. In 2011, she finished 8th in the NCAA Championship. Unfortunately, a bone injury stopped her from trying out for the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Switching to Triathlon
In 2012, Claire decided to try a new sport: triathlon. She joined the Brussels Triathlon Club. In her very first year, she became the Belgian Champion in the Sprint distance triathlon. This was a great start!
In her second year of triathlon, she competed in five events organized by the ITU. She won a silver medal at the ITU Aquathlon World Championships in London. This was a huge achievement!
Professional Career Highlights
In 2014, while still finishing her studies, Claire competed in major triathlon races. These included the World Triathlon Series and World Cup races. Her best results that year were a 3rd place in the Chengdu World Cup race. She also got a 6th place in Yokohama. She ended the year as the top female Belgian triathlete. She was ranked 33rd in the World Triathlon Series. Claire was also voted "Female Athlete of the Year 2014" in triathlon.
In 2015, Claire officially became a professional triathlete. She faced some challenges that year. She had a bike crash in one race and had to stop. In another race, she sprained her foot ligaments. These injuries made her miss some important races. They also affected her chances for the Rio Olympics.
After recovering, she competed in London and finished 17th. A few weeks later, she represented Belgium at the First European Games in Baku. She finished 8th in the women's competition. She showed great running skills, moving up many places during the run. However, she injured her foot again in Baku. This kept her out of competition for two more months.
When she returned in August, she finished 4th in a Sprint race in Riga. Despite her injuries, she ended the year strong. She finished in the top 15 in her last three races. Her best was a 9th place in Cozumel. She was often among the top 5 fastest runners in these races. These strong finishes helped her rankings. She ended 2015 in a good position for the 2016 Rio Olympics. She was also named Belgian Triathlon's "Female Athlete of the Year 2015" again!
Road to the Olympics
The start of 2016 was tough for Claire. She struggled in the first four races. But things changed in Chengdu. Even after a difficult swim, she caught up during the bike ride. She then ran incredibly well. She finished in second place, her best result yet!
She competed in two more Olympic qualifying races. She didn't perform as well in those. However, she still managed to stay in the top 50 athletes. This meant she was selected for the Rio 2016 Olympics!
After securing her spot for Rio, Claire won two more races. She became the Belgian Sprint Champion. She also won the Europa Cup Sprint distance race in Rotterdam.
Olympic Experience and Future Goals
The 2016 Olympic Games in Rio did not go as planned for Claire. She fell behind in the swimming part. Then, she was "lapped" during the bike leg. This means the faster riders caught up to her. When this happens, athletes are disqualified. The same thing happened at the World Cup Final in Cozumel, Mexico.
After these disappointments, Claire decided to focus on the next Olympic Games. She moved to San Diego, USA. There, she joined the Triathlon Squad. This team is coached by Paulo Sousa. She continues to train hard for her future goals.
Claire Michel's Race Results
Here are some of Claire Michel's results from ITU and ETU races:
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Silver
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Gold
See also
In Spanish: Claire Michel para niños
