Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Marie-José Perec
Marie-José Perec (born May 9, 1968) is a French athlete, specialised in the 200 and 400 m, and triple Olympic champion.
She was born in Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe.
Perec experienced her first major international success in 1991, when she became World Champion in the 400 m in Tokyo. Now a favourite for the Olympic title in 1992, Barcelona, she didn't disappoint.
Four years later—again the defending 400 m World Champion—she also entered in the 200 m at the Olympics in Atlanta. Surprisingly, she managed to win both events, achieving a rare 200/400 double. Perec was the first athlete of either sex to accomplish the 200/400 double at a non-boycotted Olympics; she completed her double 20 minutes before Michael Johnson matched the feat.
These two Olympic titles are also Perec's last international titles up to now. She was set to compete against Cathy Freeman in the Sydney 2000 Olympics, but just prior to the Games, Perec left the Olympic village in controversy and did not compete.
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