A flippant expose of the country and people who will host this year’s Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This week Senior Correspondent Mike Osborne profiles a dozen famous French champions.
You need to go a long way back in time, or to the cemetery, to discover the men and women important to the French psyche.
Knowing about this list of French heroes will help you sound more intelligent, make you more familiar with Paris landmarks and provide some understanding of the Opening Ceremony at the Olympic Games.
Joan of Arc (1412-1431)
Led the French army to success over the English as a teenager.
Betrayed by the Duke of Burgundy and burned at the stake.
Became the Patron Saint of France.
Never liked barbecues.
Louis XIV (1639-1715)
Known as the Sun King and world’s longest reigning monarch.
Ruled France for 72 years and built the lavish Palace of Versailles.
Catholic king who challenged the Pope’s authority while kicking non-Catholics out of the country.
Loved mirrors, hated Protestants.
Marie Antoinette (1755-1793)
Born an Austrian Duchess who became the last Queen of France.
Aged 14 she married the future Louis XVI.
Became Queen aged 18 as France was slipping into revolution.
Famed for her beauty but also her extravagance.
Stopped eating cake when she lost her head at 36.
Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821)
Popular and successful soldier who became Emperor.
Won a lot of wars, then lost a lot of wars.
Was exiled twice – to the islands of Elba and Saint Helena.
Had the hots for Josephine and wore his hat sideways.
Gustav Eiffel (1832-1923)
Engineer who built the famous Parisian landmark named after him.
Started out building bridges and viaducts for the French rail network.
Also built the framework for the Statue of Liberty in the USA.
Towering figure in engineering.
Claude Monet (1840-1926)
Painter who founded the Impressionist movement.
Liked to paint haystacks and his water garden in the town of Giverny.
One of the few artists to be successful in his own lifetime.
Now pushing up, rather than painting, water lilies.
Pierre de Coubertin (1863-1937)
French Baron who became the father of the modern Olympics.
Revived the ancient games of Olympia in Athens in 1896.
Created the IOC and served as president for almost 30 years.
Ensured Paris hosted the Olympic Games in 1900 and 1924.
Died in near poverty after sinking his fortune into his Olympic dream.
Marie Curie (1867-1934)
Polish born but naturalised-French scientist.
First woman to win a Nobel Prize for her research on radiation.
First person to win a Nobel twice, this time for discovering radium and polonium.
Only person to win a Nobel in two fields – physics and chemistry.
Died from complications relating to long-term exposure to radiation.
Best to give her grave in the Paris national mausoleum a wide berth.
Coco Chanel (1883-1971)
Fashion designer pioneer who founded the Chanel brand.
Created the LBD, diversified into handbags, jewellery and perfume.
Suspected of being a Nazi collaborator in WWII.
Favourite number was 5.
Charles de Gaulle (1890-1970)
Soldier, General and long-time President of France.
Led the French forces against the Nazis in World War II.
Chaired a provisional government after the war.
Served as Prime Minister and then a decade as President.
Wore a funny hat, but the right way round.
Edith Piaf (1915-1963)
French cabaret singer known as “The Little Sparrow”.
Her signature tune was “La Vie en Rose” (Life in Pink).
The song lifted the country’s spirit through the Nazi occupation.
Regarded as France’s greatest singer.
True to her entertainer roots she died young from drugs and booze.
Zinedine Zidane (1972-)
France’s most famous soccer player with more than 100 caps.
Scored twice when France beat Brazil to win the 1998 World Cup.
Also scored when France lost the WC to Italy on penalties in 2006.
Still alive! Lovingly known as Zizou and expected to play a role in the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony.
NOTE – This is the latest in a weekly series of “Frivolous facts about France for Olympic bon vivants”. You can read other Frivolous Facts stories by clicking on these topics: Art, Architecture, Sportscars, Language, Wine, Explorers, French hatred of the British
Michael Osborne has been a journalist for more than four decades including 35 years with the national news agency Australian Associated Press, rising from junior reporter to Editor.
He was AAP Editor for 11 years and served four years as Head of Sport and Racing. He was also posted to London and Beijing as AAP’s Bureau Chief and Foreign Correspondent.
He has worked at six Olympics and five Commonwealth Games, covered tennis grand slams, golf majors, international cricket, rugby world cups and numerous sporting world championships. He also co-ordinated and managed AAP’s teams and coverage at three Olympic Games in Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
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