Josette ARENE

By 1942, at the age of 18, Josette Arène was already one of France’s top female swimmers, having taken up the sport only four years earlier in 1938. In 1943 she took her talents to their national peak by winning her first of eight French championships in the 100 metres freestyle event (the others came in 1945-1950 and 1954). She also took the 400 metres freestyle title in 1946 and 1947. Internationally, she competed in two editions of the Olympic Games in 1948 and 1952, competing in the 100 and 400 metres freestyle events, as well as the 4x100 metres freestyle relay, both years. Individually she never got past the opening rounds, while in the relays she finished seventh and eighth respectively. She was also sixth and ninth in the 4x100 metres freestyle relay and the 100 metres freestyle respectively at the 1947 European Championships, and sixth in the 100 metres freestyle at the 1950 and 1954 editions. She retired from active competition in 1954, but several of her descendants had notable aquatic careers, including her daughter Isabelle Arène, who represented France in diving at the 1980 Summer Olympics.