Sport: Marie Jos Prec
Marie –José Pérec was born on the 9th May in Basse-Terre, in Guadeloupe. At the age of 16 Marie –José Pérec moved with her mother to Paris to try their luck there. She started training in Paris and remained in the city until 1994. Then she decided to go to California
She started training in Los Angeles with John Smith. She won her first gold medal in the 400 metres at the World Championships in Tokyo in 1991, and had her first Olympic victory, again in the 400 metres, in Barcelona in 1992. In ’94, at the European Champions in Helsinki, she won the 400 metres in a time of 53.33”, and was also in the winning 4 x 400 metre relay team. At the Atlanta Olympics in ’96, she won the 400 metres with a time of 48.25” in front of the Australian, Cathy Freeman, and the 200 metres in 22,12”, beating Marlene Ottey.
by Tijana Pavlovic, VII-2