Gaston Heuet

Gaston Heuet was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, his parents returning to France when he was four. He was just 19 years of age at his first Olympic appearance when he competed at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm without major success. One year later, he claimed his first podium at the French track & field championships, winning bronze in the 5,000 metres. He took part in World War I, first as a foot soldier, then as an armoured infantryman, being wounded twice.

In 1919 Heuet won the French Military Championship and won bronze over 10,000 metres at the Inter-Allied Games. In the following year he earned his first French Championship, winning the 10,000 and placing third in the 4-miles at the British AAA Championships. At the 1920 Olympics he placed fourth and fifth, respectively, in the two long-distance team events. His eighth place in the cross-country individual made him the best Frenchman in this event.

Heuet earned his second French title in 1922, winning the 5,000 metres, while placing second in 1923 in the cross-country event. At his third and last Olympics, Heuet finally won a medal, bronze in the cross-country team event. Individually, he placed 10th in the notorious “red-hot battle of Colombes”. In 1924, he became French 10,000 m champion for the second time. Heuet ended his sporting career in July 1929 in an emotional farewell.

Heuet worked as a salesman in the footwear department of the Louvre department stores. With his wife Madeleine (née Hanneau) he had two sons, later settling in Grandvilliers as a hotelier. The last years of his life, he lived in Halloy, where he died in the town’s hospital. In 1976, he was made a knight of the Legion of Honour.

Personal Bests: 3000 – unknown; 5000 – 15:23.2 (1922); 10000 – 32:11.1 (1920).