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Colette Besson
Full name: Colette Besson (-Noguès)
Gender: Female
Height: 5'7" (169 cm)
Weight: 128 lbs (58 kg)
Born: April 7, 1946 in Saint-Georges-de-Didonne, Charente-Maritime, France
Died: August 9, 2005 in Angoulins, Charente-Maritime, France
Affiliations: Bordeaux EC, Bordeaux (FRA)
Country: 
France
Sport: Athletics
Medals: 1 Gold (1 Total)
Biography
Colette Besson had a brief but solid career as a one-lap runner for France. She was not favored to win the 400 at the 1968 Olympics, but overtook the favorite, Lillian Board, in the final run-in, moving up from fifth place at the top of the straight. Besson later ran on two French 4x400 relay teams that twice broke the world record in 1969. At the European Championships she was silver medalist in the 400 in 1969 and finished 7th in the event in 1971. She later became a physical education teacher. Personal Bests: 200 – 23.4 (1969); 400 – 51.79 (1969); 800 – 2:03.3 (1971). |
Results
| Games | Age | City | Sport | Event | Team | NOC | Rank | Medal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 Summer | 22 | Ciudad de México | Athletics | Women's 400 metres | France | FRA | 1 | Gold | |
| 1972 Summer | 26 | München | Athletics | Women's 400 metres | France | FRA | 5 h2 r2/4 | ||
| 1972 Summer | 26 | München | Athletics | Women's 4 × 400 metres Relay | France | FRA | 4 |
Women's 400 metres
| Games | Age | City | Sport | Country | Phase | Unit | Rank | T(H) | T(A) | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 Summer | 22 | Ciudad de México | Athletics | France | Final | 1 | =OR | 52.0 | 52.03 | 5 | |
| 1968 Summer | 22 | Ciudad de México | Athletics | France | Semi-Finals | Heat One | 2 | QU | 53.6 | 53.62 | |
| 1968 Summer | 22 | Ciudad de México | Athletics | France | Round One | Heat One | 1 | QU | 53.1 | 53.11 | |
| 1972 Summer | 26 | München | Athletics | France | Quarter-Finals | Heat Two | 5 | 53.39 | 3 | ||
| 1972 Summer | 26 | München | Athletics | France | Round One | Heat Five | 3 | QU | 53.41 | 5 |
Women's 4 × 400 metres Relay
| Games | Age | City | Sport | Team | NOC | Phase | Unit | Rank | T(A) | ST | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 Summer | 26 | München | Athletics | France | FRA | Final | 4 | 3:27.52 | 52,1 | ||
| 1972 Summer | 26 | München | Athletics | France | FRA | Round One | Heat One | 2 | QU | 3:30.02 |
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