Origins & Early Life

Marie-José Pérec (French: [maʁi ʒoze peʁɛk] ; born 9 May 1968) is a retired French track and field sprinter who specialised in the 200 and 400 metres and is a three-time Olympic gold medalist. She was born in the French overseas department of Guadeloupe and moved to Paris when she was 16 years old. Pérec first represented France in the 200 metres event at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, reaching the quarter-finals. She won the 400 metres world title at the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo and repeated the feat at the 1995 World Championships in Gothenburg.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

She won her first Olympic gold medal in the 400 metres event at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. She entered the 200 metres and 400 metres events at the 1996 Atlanta Games and won both, achieving the second-ever Olympic 200 metres/400 metres gold medal double, after Valerie Brisco-Hooks in Los Angeles 1984. Pérec won the 400 metres title in an Olympic record time of 48.25 seconds, which ranked her as the third-fastest woman of all time. It took another 23 years before Salwa Eid Naser, in October 2019, surpassed her mark to demote Pérec to fourth in the list of world's fastest-ever female 400-metre...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Ajay Devgn — Contemporary (Born in 1968) (1968): Veteran Indian actor and filmmaker known for diverse roles in Hindi cinema.
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• Anastacia — Contemporary (Born in 1968) (1968): American singer-songwriter known for her powerful voice and 'sprock' fusion.
• Albert A. Michelson — Shared historical date (05-09 · Died) (1931): Pioneering American experimental physicist known for light speed measurements.
• Albert Finney — Shared historical date (05-09 · Born) (1936): Esteemed English actor celebrated for his versatile stage and screen performances.
• Barry Sanders — Historical peer (Born in 1968) (1968): Elite NFL running back known for unmatched quickness and agility.
• Bennet Omalu — Historical peer (Born in 1968) (1968): Pioneering forensic pathologist known for discovering CTE in football players.
• Abdul Basit 'Abd us-Samad — Historical peer (Died in 1988) (1988): Renowned Egyptian Quran reciter, celebrated for his melodious and emotionally engaging style.
• Adele — Historical peer (Born in 1988) (1988): Iconic English singer-songwriter celebrated for powerful mezzo-soprano vocals.
• Abby Stein — Historical peer (Born in 1991) (1991): Israeli-American author, rabbi, and activist who speaks on faith and gender identity.
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