René BOUGNOL

René Bougnol’s Olympic career spanned 20 years and four Olympic Games. In 1947 he was World Champion with the foil team, winning in team foil and épée in 1951. At official World Championships Bougnol won another four silver medals in team foil (1937-38, 1949-50), one with the epée team and one in the epée individual. At the International Championships, which preceded the official World Championships until 1935, he won three silvers in team foil in 1930, 1934 and 1935. He made his first podium in 1930 at the age of 19 and his last in 1951 at age 40. In 1951 Bougnol also took the gold in individual epée at the Mediterranean Games in Alexandria. A sports palace is named after him in his hometown of Montpellier, which hosted games of the handball and volleyball World Championships.