Lucienne Laudré

In 1918 Lucienne Laudré was only 11-years-old when she ran in the first women’s cross country event held in France. Incredibly Laudré finished second in the race, before winning her first national cross country championship in 1921. Her talent was not just in long-distance running, with her becoming the French national champion in the long jump (1926–27) and the high jump (1927–28). Her victory in the long jump in 1927 also set a national record with 5.20 metres. Her performances earned her a place on the French Olympic team for the 1928 Amsterdam Games where she came 12th in the high jump. At the Games Laudré met her future husband Roger Viel, who was the French champion in the 400 metres hurdles. She continued to compete in track and field athletics for the next few years, winning the 80 metres hurdles at the Paris championships in 1930. Laudré was also a talented footballer who played for the French national side from 1924 until 1928, which saw her score two goals in a match against Belgium in April 1928.

Personal Best: HJ – 1.50 (1927).