Laurent Chardard is a native of Reunion Island where he discovered surfing and water sports.
Laurent Chardard’s career path is not like the others. The 29-year-old from Reunion Island, an engineer by training, was in fact a simple surfing enthusiast until 2017. While surfing in Boucan Canot, Laurent Chardard was attacked by a shark, leaving a leg and an arm. He owes his salvation to the intervention of a lifeguard, who brought him back to the beach.
Despite this accident, Laurent Chardard remains passionate about aquatic sports. He then turned to para swimming, and only three years after his accident he took part in his first international competition: the world championships in 2019. And the Reunion native is not just a figurehead: bronze medal in the 50m freestyle S6, and silver medal in the 50m butterfly. Only fourth in this distance at the Paralympic Games, Laurent Chardard has made the 50m butterfly a specialty. The reigning world and European champion, he wants to go for Olympic gold in Paris.
Laurent Chardard’s track record
- 2024 European Championships: gold medal (50m butterfly S6), silver medal (4x100m freestyle relay S6), silver medal (100m freestyle S6).
- 2023 World Championships: Gold medal (50m butterfly S6), bronze medal (50m freestyle S6), silver medal (4x100m freestyle).
- 2022 World Championships: silver medal (100m freestyle S6), gold medal (50m butterfly S6).
- 2021 Paralympic Games: 4th place (50m butterfly S6), 6th place (100m backstroke S6), 7th place (100m freestyle S6).
- 2021 European Championships: gold medal (100m backstroke S6), silver medal (50m butterfly S6), bronze medal (100m freestyle S6).
- 2019 World Championships: silver medal (50m butterfly S6), bronze medal (50m freestyle S6).