France is a big sports-loving nation, and the list of the best and greatest French athletes is not small.
Today, we present some of the top French athletes who have made their mark in various sports and proven why they are among the greatest French athletes.
Every sport is competitive in its own way, and France has produced the best athletes in various sports like Tennis, Football, Skiing, and cycling. These athletes have shown the world that French athletes are no less when it comes to fighting hard and giving tough competition.
Yannick Noah – Tennis
Whenever the list of top French athletes is made, Yannic Noah’s name will certainly feature in it because his mark on the tennis world is remembered when he won the French Open Title in the year 1983.
It was historic when Yannick won the French Open because, after a 37-year gap, a French athlete won a Singles Men’s Title and the famous French Open.
No wonder the French people love him, and his style and personality are loved by fans all over the world.
Zinedine Zidane – Football
Oh my God, Zinedine Zidane is a wonder man, a French Athlete who took French Football to great heights.
His style, elegance, and the way he moved around the football ground were unparalleled.
There were some other amazing football players during Zinedine Zidane’s era, but when he had the ball in his possession, everyone’s eyes were glued to him.
Zinedine Zidane was one such French Athlete that every club wanted. He has played for Real Madrid and Juventus, and he came into the news for his head-butt during the final World Cup match that he played against Italy.
Every young kid who wants to become a French Athlete looks up to Zinedine Zidane and his career.
Jean-Claude Killy – Alpine Skiing
Not only was Jean-Claude a famous French Athlete, but he was also considered legendary in the Alpin Skiing sport.
When he competed in the 1968 Olympics, he won gold medals in three different skiing competitions, a historic accomplishment for any French athlete.
Michel Platini – Football
Michel is one of those French Athletes who has been very successful at the national and club levels.
He is remembered for his role in making the French football team win the UEFA European Championship in 1984.
He was a midfielder and covered the ground quite nicely, making him quite famous in the football circuit of French athletes.
Michel Platini won the Ballon d’Or thrice in consecutive years, i.e., 1983, 1984, and 1985. He also came 7th in the FIFA Player of the Century list.
Jacques Anquetil – Cycling
He was a beast and dominated cycling events in the 1950s and 1960s.
His name is cemented as one of the most famous French athletes and a cycling phenom.
He has won the famous and tough Tour de France five times, and he is one of those French athletes who had a unique way of training and preparing for the races.
Marie-Jose Perec – Track and Field
Marie was a sprinter and was admired in the 1990s for her performance in the sprinting world.
She is one of the rare French Athletes who won gold medals in the 200 m and 400 m events in both the 1992 and 1996 Olympics.
Pérec was mentally strong, which helped her bring out the best when it came to speed events.
Laure Manaudou – Swimming
Laure Manaudou is a champion French Athlete specializing in 200 and 1500-meter swimming.
Laure won her first Olympic Gold Medal in the 2004 Olympics and is the Sister of Florent Manaudou, another French Athlete who won the Gold Medal in the Olympics.
Laure also won 3 Gold Medals in the 2004 European Swimming Championship in Madrid, Spain.
Summary
French Athletes are famous for their grit and mental toughness and have left their mark on the world of sports. Some of the other famous French Athletes are:
- Michel Jazy – Track and Field
- Tony Parker – Basketball
- Renaud Lavillenie – Pole Vault