Christel Bouvron

Mei Yen “Christel” Bouvron (born 1 October 1984) is a Singaporean former swimmer, who specialised in freestyle and butterfly events.[1] She is a two-time Olympian (2000 and 2004), a double finalist at the Asian Games (2002), and a gold medalist in the 200 m butterfly at the Southeast Asian Games (2003). Bouvron also became the first swimmer to qualify for the Olympics since 1920, while training for the Fighting Irish, and majoring in anthropology and classics at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.[2]

Christel Bouvron
Personal information
Full nameChristel Bouvron Mei Yen
National team Singapore
Born (1984-10-01) 1 October 1984
Singapore
Height1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weight62 kg (137 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle, butterfly
College teamUniversity of Notre Dame (U.S.)
Medal record
Women's swimming
Representing Singapore
Southeast Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2003 Hanoi 200 m butterfly
Bronze medal – third place 2003 Hanoi 100 m butterfly

Bouvron made her first Singaporean team, as a 15-year-old teen, at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. She failed to advance into the succeeding round in any of her individual events, finishing thirty-sixth in the 400 m freestyle (4:25.16), and thirty-second in the 200 m butterfly (2:17.62).[3][4]

When South Korea hosted the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, Bouvron attempted to claim her first career medal, but settled only for sixth place in the 100 m butterfly, and eighth in the 200 m butterfly (2:17.42).[5][6]

In 2003, Bouvron won a total of two medals in the same stroke at the Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam. Out of four tries in swimming, she only captured a gold in the 200 m butterfly final with a decisive time of 2:17.72, touching out Philippines' Maria Gandionco by more than two seconds.[7]

At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Bouvron shortened her program by competing only in the 200 m butterfly. After winning her first gold from SEA Games, her seed time of 2:17.72 was officially confirmed and placed under a FINA B-standard.[8][9] Bouvron participated in the first of four heats against seven other swimmers, including 15-year-old Maria Bulakhova. She rounded out a field to last place with a slowest time of 2:26.21, nearly 14 seconds behind winner Bulakhova. Bouvron failed to advance into the semi-finals, as she placed thirty-second overall in the preliminaries.[9][10][11]

References
  1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Christel Bouvron". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  2. "Christel Bouvron To Become First Current Notre Dame Student to Compete in Olympics in 84 Years". Notre Dame Athletics. 13 August 2004. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  3. "Sydney 2000: Swimming – Women's 400m Freestyle Heat 1" (PDF). Sydney 2000. LA84 Foundation. p. 189. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  4. "Sydney 2000: Swimming – Women's 200m Butterfly Heat 2" (PDF). Sydney 2000. LA84 Foundation. p. 232. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  5. "Japan Takes Four of Five Events on Day One of Asian Games". Swimming World. 30 September 2002. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  6. "Japan's Kitajima Breaks Barrowman's 200m Breaststroke World Record; Cracks 2:10 Barrier". Swimming World. 2 October 2002. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  7. "Medals Shared on Final Day of Southeast Asian Games". Swimming World. 11 December 2003. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  8. "Swimming – Women's 200m Butterfly Startlist (Heat 1)". Athens 2004. Omega Timing. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  9. "Christel Bouvron Swims 200 Butterfly in Athens Olympics". Notre Dame Athletics. 13 August 2004. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  10. "Women's 200m Butterfly Heat 1". Athens 2004. BBC Sport. 17 August 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  11. Thomas, Stephen (17 August 2004). "Women's 200 Butterfly Prelims, Day 4: Jedrzejczak Fastest. Nakanishi, Risztov, Sandeno and Thomas All Qualify". Swimming World. Archived from the original on 3 December 2005. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
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