Camille Lacourt Wiki, Age, Height, Wife, Family, Biography & More

Camille Lacourt, a former French swimmer specializing in backstroke, achieved three consecutive world championship titles in the 50-meter backstroke (2013 in Barcelona, 2015 in Kazan, and 2017 in Budapest). At the 2012 Olympics, he narrowly missed a medal, finishing fourth in the 100-metre backstroke. He also competed in the same event at the 2016 Rio Olympics, securing a fifth-place finish.

Wiki/Biography

Camille Lacourt was born on Monday, 22 April 1985 (age 39 years; as of 2024) in Narbonne, France. His zodiac sign is Taurus. He spent most of his childhood in Font-Romeu, above Perpignan, in the mountains region. Camille Lacourt’s swimming career began at an early age. Around 2 or 3 years old, his initial exposure to swimming occurred when his mother accompanied a neighbor to swimming lessons. Although too young for formal lessons, his excitement to enter the pool led to his first swim in his underwear. This early display of interest and skill impressed a coach who would guide Lacourt until he turned 18. One of his earliest competitive memories dates back to when he was about 5 years old. During a swimming event in Font-Romeu, Lacourt, the youngest participant, received a cup, marking the beginning of his decorated swimming career.

Physical Appearance

^[1]Eurosport Height: 6′ 7″

^[2]Eurosport Weight: 85 kg

Hair Colour: Light Brown

Eye Colour: Blue

Family

Parents & Siblings

Both his parents are postmen. ^[3]Marie Claire

Wife & Children

Lacourt’s first marriage was to Valérie Bègue, the 2008 Miss France winner, on 8 August 2013.

Together, they had a daughter named Jazz, born in October 2012.

Their marriage ended in divorce in 2016. Later, Lacourt married Alice Detollenaere, a fashion model, with whom he has a son, Marius, born in 2021.

Signature/Autograph

Career

His professional trajectory took a significant turn in 2006 when he joined Philippe Lucas’ group in Canet-en-Roussillon, setting the stage for his future successes. A year later, in 2007, he broke his first French record in the 50m backstroke. His career continued to shine as he joined the Marseille swimmers’ circle in 2008.

The year 2010 marked a breakthrough for Lacourt, as he won the European champion title in the 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke, and the 4x100m medley in Budapest. This achievement was highlighted by his performance in the 100m backstroke, where he set a new European record and became the second-fastest swimmer ever in that event. He also excelled in the 50m backstroke, achieving the second-fastest time ever. His success at the European Championships was complemented by a gold medal in the 4 × 100m medley relay.

In the following years, Lacourt continued to collect a series of medals at the World Championships: a gold and a silver in 2011 in Shanghai, two golds in 2013 in Barcelona, and a complete set of one gold, one silver, and one bronze in 2015 in Kazan. Despite these achievements, he faced challenges, including finishing fourth in the 100m backstroke at the 2012 Summer Olympics and missing the 2014 European Championships due to a hip injury. However, he rebounded by winning two golds at the 2016 European Championships.

His career, however, saw a setback at the 2016 Summer Olympics where he did not win any medals. In a triumphant conclusion to his swimming career, Lacourt won his third consecutive gold medal in the 50m backstroke at the 2017 World Championships. This victory marked an end to his career, as he announced his retirement later that year.

After Retirement

After retiring from professional swimming, he took some training to become a corporate speaker. Now he works as a commentator at Canal Sport+.

Controversies

Slammed Sun Yang

During an interview following a session at the 2016 Summer Olympics, French swimmer Camille Lacourt commented Sun Yang, suggesting that Sun “pisses purple.” This remark came after Sun, a controversial Chinese swimmer, won gold in the men’s 200 freestyle. Lacourt, who had placed fifth in the 100 backstroke, also shared his concerns about the extent of illegal drug use in swimming. He estimated that in each final, there might be “two or three” swimmers using performance-enhancing drugs. Sun Yang, who had previously served a relatively unnoticed and brief suspension in 2014 after testing positive for trimetazidine, has been at the center of multiple controversies. These controversies relate not only to suspicions about his status as a clean athlete but also to his behavior both in and out of the pool. Following his defeat by another Chinese swimmer, Xu Jiayu, who secured the silver medal in the 100-meter backstroke, Lacourt expressed his displeasure, stating, “I don’t like being beaten by a Chinese.” ^[4]Independent

Awards & Achievements

• 5-time World Swimming Champion

• 5-time European Champion

• 21-time French Champion

• 1 European Record

• 4 French Records

Tattoos

Dragon Tattoo on Upper Arm

Lower Abdomen Tattoo

Upper Back Tattoo

Favourites

• Food: Sushi

• Drink: Red Wine

• Movie: The Dinner Game (Le Dîner de Cons)

• Book: Happiness: A Philosophical Journey by Frédéric Lenoir

• Inspirational Leader: The Dalai Lama

• Song: Halo by Beyoncé

Facts/Trivia

• Camille Lacourt, although having made some initial TV appearances, ultimately decided that a television career wasn’t for him. This decision was made clear despite his participation in “Dancing with the Stars,” which he found unique due to its focus on dance rather than regular filming, setting it apart from typical reality shows.
  

  Camille in Danse avec les stars

• Nonetheless, in 2021, he did take part in “Fort Boyard,” a famous French TV game show.
  

  Camille in Fort Boyard

• Branching out from his swimming career, Lacourt ventured into the hospitality sector in 2017. He opened a cocktail bar named Fidèle in the vibrant Saint-Germain-des-Prés area of Paris. The bar, located in a building that was once a theater in the Roaring Twenties, stands out with its jazz and DJ sets, adding a distinctive touch to Paris nightlife.
  

  An invitation to the opening of Camille’s restaurant, Fidèle

• In terms of personal life, Lacourt has specific preferences when it comes to romantic partners. He looks for more than just physical beauty, favoring brunettes with light eyes who don’t conform to the stereotypical standards of being excessively thin. He appreciates women who are self-assured and composed.

• Beyond the pool, Lacourt is also passionate about other sports. He’s an avid runner and skier, having grown up in Font-Romeu in the Pyrénées Orientales, a region known for its mountains. He started skiing at a young age and continued the sport annually until he was 26. His love for endurance sports is evident in his participation in events like the Nice Ironman in June and the Paris Marathon in April.
  

  Camille holding a snowboard with his friend

• Golf is another of Lacourt’s interests, and he actively plays in various clubs.
  

  Camille during his golf practice

• Despite his fame and success, he is cautious with his spending. In an interview, he mentioned his modest lifestyle, highlighting that his major purchase was an apartment and, until five years ago, he lived on a tight budget. He doesn’t indulge in extravagant purchases like expensive jewelry.

• As someone who loves animals, particularly dogs, he owns a pet dog named Sumo.
  

  A picture of Camille Lacourt and his dog

• Lacourt has also co-authored a book titled “Guérie par ton amour” with Alice Detollenaere.
  

  A book by Camille and his partner

• When it comes to dietary preferences, Lacourt is not a vegetarian and enjoys alcohol on special occasions. ^[5]Camille Lacourt – Instagram
  

  Camille drinking wine with his wife