Yannick Agnel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Yannick Agnel

Yannick Agnel in June 2012
Personal information
Nickname(s)	The Squale
Nationality	France
Born	(1992-06-09) 9 June 1992 (age 33) Nîmes, France
Height	202 cm (6 ft 8 in)
Weight	90 kg (198 lb)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Freestyle
Club	L'Olympic Nice Natation North Baltimore Aquatic Club Mulhouse Olympic Natation
Coach	Fabrice Pellerin Bob Bowman (2013–2014) Lionel Horter (2014–)
Medal record Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 2 1 0 World Championships (LC) 2 1 0 World Championships (SC) 1 0 1 European Championships (LC) 1 1 2 European Championships (SC) 2 0 1 European Junior Championships (LC) 8 1 0 Total 16 4 4 Representing  France Olympic Games Gold 2012 London 200 m freestyle Gold 2012 London 4×100 m freestyle Silver 2012 London 4×200 m freestyle World Championships (LC) Gold 2013 Barcelona 200 m freestyle Gold 2013 Barcelona 4×100 m freestyle Silver 2011 Shanghai 4×200 m freestyle World Championships (SC) Gold 2010 Dubai 4×100 m freestyle Bronze 2010 Dubai 4×200 m freestyle European Championships (LC) Gold 2010 Budapest 400 m freestyle Silver 2010 Budapest 4×100 m freestyle Bronze 2010 Budapest 4×200 m freestyle Bronze 2014 Berlin 200 m freestyle European Championships (SC) Gold 2012 Chartres 200 m freestyle Gold 2012 Chartres 400 m freestyle Bronze 2012 Chartres 100 m freestyle European Junior Championships (LC) Gold 2009 Prague 200 m freestyle Gold 2009 Prague 400 m freestyle Gold 2009 Prague 4×200 m freestyle Gold 2010 Helsinki 100 m freestyle Gold 2010 Helsinki 200 m freestyle Gold 2010 Helsinki 400 m freestyle Gold 2010 Helsinki 4×100 m freestyle Gold 2010 Helsinki 4×200 m freestyle Silver 2010 Helsinki 4×100 m medley

Yannick Agnel (born June 9, 1992) is a French former competitive swimmer. He was known for his amazing skills in freestyle races. Yannick is a three-time Olympic medalist.

At his first Olympics in London in 2012, he won two gold medals. He also earned a silver medal there. He holds the world record for the 400-meter freestyle in a short pool. He also has European and French records in other freestyle events.

Because of his great success, Swimming World Magazine named him the European Swimmer of the Year in 2012.

About Yannick Agnel

Yannick Agnel was born in Nîmes, France, in 1992. His parents named him after the famous French tennis player Yannick Noah. Yannick started swimming when he was eight years old. A neighbor noticed his talent and told his parents to sign him up for a swimming club.

He later studied business at Skema Business School. He also attended the well-known French school Paris-Dauphine IX.

Yannick's Swimming Journey

Starting His Career

Yannick showed his talent early on. At the 2009 European Junior Swimming Championships, he won gold medals. He set new European junior records in the 200-meter and 400-meter freestyle races. He also helped his team win gold in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay.

In April 2010, Yannick broke the French record for the 200-meter freestyle. He swam it in 1 minute, 46.35 seconds. He improved this record again in June 2010. At the 2010 European Junior Swimming Championships, he set a new French record for the 400-meter freestyle. He won a gold medal in that race.

European Championships in 2010

At the 2010 European Aquatics Championships, Yannick won a gold medal in the 400-meter freestyle. He set new French and championship records. He then teamed up with Fabien Gilot, William Meynard, and Alain Bernard in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay. They finished second, earning a silver medal.

As the first swimmer in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay, Yannick broke his own French record. He swam the 200-meter part in 1 minute, 45.83 seconds. His team, with Clement Lefert, Antton Haramboure, and Jérémy Stravius, won a bronze medal.

World Championships in 2011

At the 2011 World Aquatics Championships in Shanghai, Yannick competed in three events. He finished sixth in the 400-meter freestyle. In the 200-meter freestyle, he came in fifth place and set a new French record.

Yannick won his only medal at this competition, a silver, in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay. He swam with Grégory Mallet, Jérémy Stravius, and Fabien Gilot. Their team set a new French record with their time.

Amazing Year: 2012 Olympics

At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Yannick won three medals: two gold and one silver. In his first event, the 4×100-meter freestyle relay, he helped his team win gold. He swam the last part of the race and caught up to the American team. France won with a time of 3 minutes, 9.93 seconds. Yannick had the fastest split time of any swimmer in that race.

The next day, Yannick won his second gold medal in the 200-meter freestyle. He led the race from start to finish. His time of 1 minute, 43.14 seconds was the fastest in French swimming history. He finished far ahead of the silver medal winners.

Yannick won his final medal, a silver, in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay. He was the anchor swimmer again and had the fastest split time in the final. In his last event, the 100-meter freestyle, he finished fourth. He was very close to winning another medal.

After the Olympics, the European Swimming Federation named Yannick the male European swimmer of the year for 2012.

Breaking Records After the Olympics

On November 15, 2012, Yannick broke his first world record. He set a new record in the 400-meter freestyle (short course) at the French short course nationals. He beat the previous record held by German swimmer Paul Biedermann. A day later, he set a new European record in the 800-meter freestyle.

At the 2012 European Short Course Swimming Championships, Yannick won two gold medals and one bronze medal. In 2013, he was honored as a Knight (Chevalier) of the Légion d'honneur, a very important award in France.

World Championships in 2013

At the 2013 FINA World Championships in Barcelona, Yannick competed in three events. On the first day, he helped his French team win their first-ever world title in the 4 × 100 m freestyle relay. He swam with Florent Manaudou, Fabien Gilot, and Jérémy Stravius.

Two days later, Yannick won his second gold medal in the 200 m freestyle. He finished well ahead of his training partner, Conor Dwyer. In his final event, the 4 × 200 m freestyle relay, his team finished fourth, just missing a medal.

Later Career and Retirement

After swimming in Nice, Yannick moved to the US to train with coach Bob Bowman. However, this move was not very successful. At the 2014 European Championship, Yannick was not in his best form. He only won a bronze medal in the 200m freestyle. After this, he decided to return to France and train in Mulhouse.

In 2015, Yannick was part of the French national team. However, he could not compete at the world championship due to illness.

In 2016, Yannick finished third in the 200m freestyle at the French national championships. Only the top two swimmers would qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics. However, another swimmer decided not to compete in the 200m freestyle, which allowed Yannick to go to the Olympics. At the Rio Olympics, Yannick did not make it past the first races in the 200m freestyle. He announced his retirement from competitive swimming soon after.

Personal Best Times

Images for kids

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  The Olympic rings, a symbol of the Olympic Games.

See also

In Spanish: Yannick Agnel para niños