Jérémie Azou (born 2 April 1989) is a French former rower. He is an Olympic, World, and European champion in the men's lightweight double sculls.

Jérémie Azou
Azou at the 2013 World Championships
Personal information
Born (1989-04-02) 2 April 1989 (age 35)
Avignon, France
Height178 cm (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Weight71 kg (157 lb)
Sport
SportLightweight rowing
Medal record
Men's rowing
Representing  France
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2016 Rio de Janeiro Lwt double sculls
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2015 Aiguebelette Lwt double sculls
Gold medal – first place 2017 Sarasota Lwt double sculls
Silver medal – second place 2008 Linz Lwt quad sculls
Silver medal – second place 2009 Poznań Lwt double sculls
Silver medal – second place 2013 Chungju Lwt single sculls
Silver medal – second place 2014 Amsterdam Lwt double sculls
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2013 Seville Lwt double sculls
Gold medal – first place 2014 Belgrade Lwt double sculls
Gold medal – first place 2015 Poznań Lwt double sculls
Gold medal – first place 2017 Račice Lwt double sculls
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Montemor-o-Velho Lwt double sculls

Career edit

He was part of the French men's lightweight quadruple sculls team who won silver at the 2008 World Championships, with Pierre-Etienne Pollez, Fabrice Moreau and Remi Di Girolamo.[2]

In 2009, he won silver at the World Championships in the men's lightweight double sculls with Frederic Dufour.[3] In 2010, he teamed with Di Girolamo to win bronze at the European Championships.[4]

At the 2011 World Under 23 championships, he competed in the lightweight men's single sculls, winning the gold medal.[5]

In 2012, he began to team with Stany Delayre. They finished in 4th in the lightweight double sculls at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[3] An injury to Delayre meant that Azou competed in the lightweight single sculls at the 2013 World Championship, where he won the silver medal.[3][6]

Their team won the European Championships in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and the World Championships in 2015.[7] They also won a World silver medal in 2014.[8] The time of 06:11.38 Azou and Delayre set at the 2015 European Championships is still the fastest time at a European championships.[3] They also hold the fastest time at a World Cup.[3]

In 2015, Azou and Delayre won the World Rowing Male Crew of the Year Award.[3]

He teamed with Pierre Houin from 2016, winning Olympic gold at the Rio Olympics, and then the 2017 World Championship title.[7][3]

He was undefeated in the men's lightweight double sculls from 2015 to October 2017.[3][9] He retired in October 2017, announcing his retirement at a celebration of the renaming of the Avignon Rowing Club to Avignon Rowing Club: Base Nautique Jeremie Azou.[3]

Personal life edit

Azou originally swam as a hobby before taking up rowing at 12.[3] He is a trained physiotherapist.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ "Jérémie Azou". rio2016.com. IOC. 26 August 2016. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016..
  2. ^ "2008 World Rowing Championships – Linz Ottensheim, AUT – (LM4x) Lightweight Men's Quadruple Sculls – Final". World Rowing. 27 July 2008. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Olympic and World Champion Azou retires - worldrowing.com". World Rowing. 25 October 2017. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  4. ^ "2010 European Championships – Montemor-o-Velho, POR – (LM2x) Lightweight Men's Double Sculls – Final". World Rowing. 12 September 2010. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  5. ^ "2011 Under 23 World Rowing Championships – Amsterdam, NED – (BLM1x) U23 Lightweight Men's Single Sculls – Final". World Rowing. 24 July 2011. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  6. ^ "2013 World Rowing Championships – Chungju, KOR – (LM1x) Lightweight Men's Single Sculls – Final". World Rowing. 30 August 2013. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  7. ^ a b Jérémie Azou at World Rowing
  8. ^ "2014 World Rowing Championships – Amsterdam, NED – (LM2x) Lightweight Men's Double Sculls – Final". World Rowing. 30 August 2014. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Azou and Janssen head World Rowing's top 10 list for 2017 - worldrowing.com". World Rowing. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.

External links edit