1. Early Life
Fabien Gilot's early life laid the foundation for his distinguished swimming career, beginning with an initial foray into water polo before transitioning to competitive swimming.
1.1. Birth and Background
Fabien Gilot was born on April 27, 1984, in Denain, France. His parents are Michel and Yveline Gilot.
1.2. Early Sports Activities
Gilot initially began his athletic pursuits by playing water polo. He later transitioned to competitive swimming, where he would go on to achieve significant success.
2. Swimming Career
Fabien Gilot's swimming career spans over a decade, marked by numerous junior and senior international medals, consistent presence in French relay teams, and a significant role as team captain. He primarily competed in freestyle and medley relay events, becoming a pivotal figure in French swimming.
2.1. Junior Career
In 2002, Gilot achieved notable success at the 2002 European Junior Swimming Championships held in Linz, Austria. He became the European Junior Double Champion, winning gold medals in both the 100-meter freestyle with a time of 50.47 seconds and the 200-meter freestyle with a time of 1:52.30.
2.2. Senior International Debut and Early Achievements
Gilot made his senior international debut in 2003, joining the French swimming team for the World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona. There, he earned his first senior international medal, a bronze, as a member of the French 4x100-meter freestyle relay team. The following year, in 2004, he secured another bronze medal in the same event at the 2004 European Aquatics Championships in Madrid.
2.3. Olympic Games
Fabien Gilot participated in three consecutive Olympic Games, contributing to France's medal success in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay.
2.3.1. 2008 Beijing Olympics
Gilot represented France at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He was part of the French 4x100-meter freestyle relay team that won a silver medal.
2.3.2. 2012 London Olympics
At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Gilot was a key member of the French men's 4x100-meter freestyle relay team that famously won the gold medal. Following this victory, Gilot revealed an underarm tattoo featuring three Hebrew words: אני כלום בלעדיהםAni klum biladeihemHebrew, meaning "I am nothing without them." He explained that this tattoo was a tribute to his maternal grandmother's Jewish German-born husband, Max Goldschmidt, a Holocaust survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp. Gilot described Goldschmidt as "a grandfather in every way" and stated that the quote held deep personal meaning, representing his family and three stars-one for each of his brothers, as well as for his Olympic appearances. Although Goldschmidt passed away in 2012 before Gilot won his Olympic gold, he had seen his grandson's tattoo and witnessed his swimming achievements.
2.3.3. 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics
Gilot continued his Olympic journey at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. As part of the French 4x100-meter freestyle relay team, he helped secure a silver medal with a time of 3:10.53.
2.4. World Championships
Gilot accumulated a significant number of medals at both Long Course and Short Course World Championships.
2.4.1. Long Course (LC)
Gilot's achievements at the FINA World Aquatics Championships (Long Course) include:
- 2003 Barcelona**: Bronze medal in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay.
- 2007 Melbourne**: Bronze medal in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay.
- 2009 Rome**: Bronze medal in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay.
- 2011 Shanghai**: Silver medals in both the 4x100-meter freestyle relay and the 4x200-meter freestyle relay.
- 2013 Barcelona**: Gold medals in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay (with a time of 3:11.18) and the 4x100-meter medley relay (with a time of 3:31.51).
- 2015 Kazan**: Gold medal in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay (with a time of 3:10.74) and a bronze medal in the 4x100-meter medley relay (with a time of 3:30.50).
2.4.2. Short Course (SC)
At the World Championships (Short Course), Gilot earned:
- 2010 Dubai**: Gold medal in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay, a silver medal in the 100-meter freestyle, and a bronze medal in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay.
- 2014 Doha**: Gold medal in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay.
2.5. European Championships
Gilot's success extended to the European Championships in both Long Course and Short Course formats.
2.5.1. Long Course (LC)
His medal haul at the LEN European Aquatics Championships (Long Course) includes:
- 2004 Madrid**: Bronze medal in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay.
- 2006 Budapest**: Bronze medal in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay.
- 2010 Budapest**: Gold medal in the 4x100-meter medley relay, a silver medal in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay, and a bronze medal in the 50-meter freestyle.
- 2014 Berlin**: Gold medal in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay, a silver medal in the 100-meter freestyle, and a silver medal in the 4x100-meter medley relay.
- 2016 London**: Gold medal in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay.
2.5.2. Short Course (SC)
At the European Short Course Swimming Championships, Gilot achieved:
- 2008 Rijeka**: Gold medal in the 4x50-meter freestyle relay and a silver medal in the 100-meter freestyle.
2.6. Team Captaincy
Beginning in 2013, Fabien Gilot assumed the significant role of team captain for the French swimming team. He led the national team through several major international competitions, including the European Championships in Berlin in 2014, the World Championships in Kazan in 2015, and the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
2.7. Other Activities
Beyond his competitive swimming career, Fabien Gilot has participated in other notable events. In 2017, he took part in the torch lighting ceremony for the 2017 Maccabiah Games on July 6.
3. Personal Life and Tributes
Fabien Gilot's personal life is notably marked by his deep connection to his family history, particularly through his tribute to his grandfather. His Hebrew tattoo, אני כלום בלעדיהםAni klum biladeihemHebrew ("I am nothing without them"), which he proudly displayed after winning his Olympic gold medal in 2012, serves as a powerful symbol of this connection. The tattoo honors Max Goldschmidt, his maternal grandmother's Jewish German-born husband, who was a survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp during the Holocaust. Gilot considered Goldschmidt a true grandfather figure, and the quote resonated deeply with him, representing his entire family and also serving as a personal reminder of his three brothers and his Olympic appearances. This gesture highlights themes of family, heritage, remembrance, and the enduring impact of historical events on personal identity.
4. Legacy and Recognition
Fabien Gilot's legacy in swimming is defined by his consistent excellence, particularly in relay events, where he was an indispensable member of the French national team for over a decade. His remarkable achievement of being the only swimmer to feature in all medaled French relay teams since 2003 underscores his reliability and crucial contribution to France's success on the international stage. As team captain from 2013, Gilot also demonstrated leadership, guiding his teammates through major championships. Beyond his athletic prowess, Gilot's public tribute to his grandfather, a Holocaust survivor, through his Hebrew tattoo, has resonated widely, connecting his sporting achievements with broader humanistic themes of memory, family, and resilience. This act of remembrance adds a significant dimension to his public persona, reflecting a deep respect for his heritage and a commitment to honoring the past.