Noël Vandernotte facts for kids
Coxed four in July 1936 (from left): Noël Vandernotte (cox), Fernand and Marcel Vandernotte, Jean Cosmat, and Marcel Chauvigné
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 25 December 1923 Anglet, France |
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| Died | 18 June 2020 (aged 96) Beaucaire, France |
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| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Rowing | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | CA Nantes | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| Updated on 20 May 2018. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Noël Vandernotte (born December 25, 1923 – died June 18, 2020) was a French rower who became famous for his amazing achievements at a very young age. He was a coxswain, which is the person who steers the boat and tells the rowers what to do. Noël made history at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany.
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Early Life and Family Connections
Noël Vandernotte was born in Anglet, France. He came from a family of rowers. His father, Fernand Vandernotte, and his uncle, Marcel Vandernotte, were also skilled rowers. This family connection likely helped Noël get into the sport at a young age.
Olympic Achievements at a Young Age
Noël Vandernotte competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics when he was incredibly young. He was only 12 years and 233 days old! This made him the youngest male medalist at those Olympic Games. He is also known as the youngest French Olympic medalist of all time.
Winning Bronze Medals
At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Noël won two bronze medals for France.
- He won a bronze medal in the coxed pairs event. In this event, two rowers power the boat, and a coxswain (Noël) steers it.
- He also won a bronze medal in the coxed four competition. This event involves four rowers and a coxswain.
His role as a coxswain was very important. Even though he was young, he had to guide his team members, who were much older and stronger. His ability to perform under pressure at such a young age was truly remarkable.
A Legacy in Rowing History
Noël Vandernotte's achievements at the 1936 Olympics left a lasting mark on sports history. His record as the youngest French Olympic medalist shows his incredible talent and dedication to rowing from a very early age. He continued to be a respected figure in the sport throughout his life.
