André Théard

André Théard began his sporting career by playing football for the Haitian youth team before switching his focus to track and field athletics. In 1924 Théard became the Haitian champion in the 100 metres, winning the race with a time of 11 seconds. His performance earned him a place on the national athletics team for the 1924 Paris Olympics. He ran in both the 100 and 200 metres, reaching the quarter-finals in the latter. After the Olympics he remained in France where he continued to compete, winning several sprint races.

Théard won gold in the 100 metres at the Summer Student World Championships in 1927 and 1928. During this time he was studying at the School of Public Works in Paris, representing France rather than Haiti. In 1928 he competed for Haiti at the Amsterdam Olympics, once again running in the 100 and 200 metres. Théard reached the quarter-finals of the 100 metres, narrowly missing out on advancing to the semi-finals when he finished third in his heat. He competed in his third and final Olympics in Los Angeles in 1932, with him only running in the 100 metres.

By 1937 Théard had started working as a civil servant as an accountant at the Ministry of Finance in Haiti. During his lengthy career he worked his way up the ranks to become the Minister of Commerce (1957), the Minister of Finance (1958), and the Minister of Agriculture (1960). Théard also worked as the Haitian ambassador to the United States, the President of the Haitian Football Federation, and a member of the Haitian Olympic Committee.

Personal Bests: 100 – 10.5 (1926); 200 – 22.0 (1926).