Désiré Mérchez facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Personal information
Born	(1882-08-16)August 16, 1882 Lille, France
Died	July 8, 1968(1968-07-08) (aged 85) Nice, France
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Medal record Representing  France Olympic Games Men’s Swimming Bronze 1900 Paris Team 200 metre Men’s Water polo Bronze 1900 Paris Team

Désiré Alfred Mérchez (born August 16, 1882 – died July 8, 1968) was a talented French athlete. He was known for his skills in both swimming and water polo. Désiré Mérchez took part in the 1900 Summer Olympics held in Paris, France.

Who Was Désiré Mérchez?

Désiré Alfred Mérchez was born in Lille, a city in France. He grew up to become a strong swimmer and water polo player. His dedication to sports led him to compete at the highest level. He passed away in Nice, another city in France.

Olympic Adventures in 1900

The 1900 Summer Olympics were a big event in sports history. Désiré Mérchez represented his home country, France, at these games. He competed in two different sports, showing his amazing athletic ability.

Swimming Success

In the swimming events, Désiré Mérchez was part of the French team. They competed in the 200 metre team swimming race. His team performed very well, earning a bronze medal. This was a great achievement for him and for France.

He also swam in the 1000 metre freestyle event. However, he did not make it past the first round in that race. Even so, winning an Olympic medal was a huge success.

Water Polo Medal

Désiré Mérchez was also a member of a French water polo team. The team was called Pupilles de Neptune de Lille #2. Water polo is a team sport played in water, similar to handball. His water polo team also won a bronze medal at the same 1900 Olympics. This meant he won two bronze medals at one Olympic Games!

Legacy

Désiré Mérchez is remembered as an Olympic medalist. His achievements in both swimming and water polo show his versatility. He helped his country win medals at an early Olympic Games.