Alain Gottvallès
Biographical information
| Roles | Competed in Olympic Games |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Full name | Alain Alex Jean•Gottvallès |
| Used name | Alain•Gottvallès |
| Born | 22 March 1942 in Casablanca, Casablanca-Settat (MAR) |
| Died | 28 February 2008 in Aubenas, Ardèche (FRA) |
| Measurements | 185 cm / 80 kg |
| Affiliations | Racing Club de France, Paris (FRA) |
| NOC |  France |
Biography
Moroccan-born Alain Gottvallès was the first swimmer to finish the 100 m freestyle in less than 53 seconds, setting a new world record of 52.9 as the first swimmer of a French 4 x 100 m relay team at a 1964 Budapest competition. This performance, combined with his 1962 European title in the same event, made him one of the favourites. He could not live up to the expectations and placed 5th. This was in part due to some psychological warfare waged on him by eventual winner Don Schollander, who noticed the Frenchman was nervous and annoyed by Schollander. Hours before the race, Schollander followed Gottvallès to the toilets, and decided to wait behind him, even though other urinals were free. On top of his poor individual performance, the French relay team was disqualified in the relay final. Gottvallès retired after the Games, but his world record remained unbeaten until 1967, when it was broken by Ken Walsh. A tenfold French champion, he played minor roles in two films, but never broke through as an actor. He died of bone cancer, aged 65.
Results
| Games | Discipline (Sport) / Event | NOC / Team | Pos | Medal | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 Summer Olympics | Swimming (Aquatics) | FRA |
Alain Gottvallès | |||
| 100 metres Freestyle, Men (Olympic) | 22 | |||||
| 4 × 100 metres Medley Relay, Men (Olympic) | France | 11 | ||||
| 1964 Summer Olympics | Swimming (Aquatics) | FRA |
Alain Gottvallès | |||
| 100 metres Freestyle, Men (Olympic) | 5 | |||||
| 4 × 100 metres Freestyle Relay, Men (Olympic) | France | AC r2/2 | ||||
| 4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay, Men (Olympic) | France | 6 |
Special Notes
- Listed in Olympians Who Set a European Record in Long Course Swimming (100 m freestyle – 10 August 1962 - 13 July 1963 and 13 September 1964 - 5 September 1970: 55.0 (10 August 1962; Thionville, FRA), 52.9 (13 September 1964; Budapest, HUN); 4×100 m freestyle relay – 10 August 1962 - 31 August 1965: 3:42.5 (10 August 1962; Thionville, FRA), 3:39.2 (13 September 1964; Budapest, HUN); 4×200 m freestyle relay – 21 August 1962 - 22 August 1962 and 6 September 1964 - 24 August 1966: 8:25.8 (21 August 1962; Leipzig, GDR), 8:06.8 (6 September 1964; Bagnols, FRA))
- Listed in Olympians Who Set a World Record in Long Course Swimming (100 m freestyle – 13 September 1964 - 27 July 1967: 52.9 (13 September 1964; Budapest, HUN); 4×100 m freestyle relay – 10 August 1962 - 4 July 1963: 3:42.5 (10 August 1962; Thionville, FRA))
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the European Aquatics Championships (2–1–0 1962 Leipzig SWM gold: 100 m freestyle and 4×100 m freestyle relay, silver: 4×200 m freestyle relay)
- Listed in Olympians Who Acted in Movies (The Man Who Betrayed the Mafia; Mission spéciale á Caracas)
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the Mediterranean Games (2–1–0 1963 Napoli SWI gold: 100 m freestyle and 4×200 m freestyle relay (swam in heats only), silver: 4×100 m medley relay)