2023-12-07 15:33:12
Joseph Bernardo, known as “Jo”, former swimmer for the French team, died this Wednesday, December 6 at the age of 94. He won two bronze medals at the Olympic Games in London in 1948 and in Helsinki in 1952 in the 4 x 200 m freestyle relay.
A middle-distance specialist, he was the great rival of Jean Boiteux, the 1952 Olympic champion in the 400 meters freestyle who died in 2010.
His former club, the Cercle des nageurs de Marseille (CNM), paid tribute to him on Olympic, last representative of the world record relay (1951, with Jean Boiteux, Alex Jany and Willy Blioch), European vice-champion, multiple French champion, French record holder, winner of the Mediterranean Games.
We are extremely sad to inform you of the death of our friend Jo Bernardo, double Olympic medalist, last representative of the world record relay, European vice-champion, multiple French champion, French record holder, winner of the Mediterranean Games .
RIP ???? pic.twitter.com/qsRwItZRi5
— CN Marseille (@CNMarseille) December 6, 2023
Joseph Bernardo was born in Algiers, Algeria on May 31, 1929. He marked the history of swimming after the Second World War. In addition to his Olympic medals, he won four French Championships in the 1500 m freestyle (1949, 1952, 1953 and 1954) and a gold medal at the 1953 French Championship in the 400 m freestyle.
Jo Bernardo also broke a world record recognized by the International Federation during his career. On August 2, 1951, in the 25-meter seawater pool of the Cercle des nageurs de Marseille club, he was part of the French 4×200 m freestyle relay which established a new world record in 8 min 33 s .
The president of the PACA region, Renaud Muselier also paid tribute to the memory of Jo Bernardo with a message on human beings and his important record as an athlete, has left us. On behalf of the southern region, I extend my sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.”
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