Franck Verzy

Franck Verzy was a track and field athlete who specialised in the high jump and became the first Frenchman to clear 2.30 metres. When he was 17 Verzy was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that left him with a bad scar on his right knee. Despite this, he went on to break the then French high jump record three years later, clearing 2.28 metres in 1981. Later that same year he jumped 2.30 metres at the French Youth Championships, before winning his first national title a year later.

In August 1983 Verzy improved his own French record to 2.32 metres, with the mark standing for 11 years. The following year he won his second national title before competing at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. His Games, however, were disappointing, with him only clearing 2.15 metres in qualification, followed by three failures at 2.21 metres to be eliminated. Verzy won his third and final French title in 1986 and competed for a few more years until retiring for good in 1993.

Personal Best: HJ – 2.32 (1983).