French Olympic mastermind Donze dies, age 51

PARIS (AFP) –

Christian Donze, pictured in 2011, who masterminded France’s best-ever Olympic Games swimming performance in London just two months ago, died on Sunday at the age of 51 after taking part in a mountain bike race.

Christian Donze, who masterminded France’s best-ever Olympic Games swimming performance in London just two months ago, died on Sunday at the age of 51 after taking part in a mountain bike race.

Donze had been racing with his wife and his son at an event in Murianette in south-eastern France when he suffered a heart attack.

“The emergency services were called at around 1300, but they were unable to resuscitate him,” said a medical services spokesman.

Donze was the French team’s national director at the 2012 Olympics where the country’s swimmers finished third in the medal table behind pool superpowers United States and China.

France won seven medals, four of which were gold.

“It is with profound sadness that I heard about Christian’s death,” said swimmer Yannick Angel, a double Olympic champion in London.

“He was a great and kind man. He died as he lived, with a love of sport. Thank you for everything you did and what you built. Rest in peace.”