20 years ago, Nîmes' Adrien Hardy became Olympic rowing champion

Adrien Hardy, lors de l’inauguration de la base d’aviron de Beaucaire en octobre 2023, avec sa médaille d’or olympique. Midi Libre – MiKAEL ANISSET

At the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, the double sculls rowing specialist won the title. 20 years later, to the day, we look back at this great journey.

Gold medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, Adrien Hardy, born in Nîmes 46 years ago, had no idea, when he started rowing under the advice of his doctor to treat his scoliosis, that he would have such a career. “When I got on the boat, I fell in love with this sport. “We can build ourselves with our values”,indicated the champion in October 2023 at the inauguration of the nautical base in his name, in Beaucaire, where he took his first strokes of the oar. He trained there from 1993 to 1999.

That same year, he began to make a name for himself by becoming U23 world champion in double sculls. The following year, he took part in his first Olympic Games in Sydney where he finished 7th, a sign of a promising start for the young 22-year-old rower.

World Champion in 2003

But his ambition did not stop there and he set himself the challenge of starting from scratch by changing teammates. Adrien Hardy and Sébastien Vieilledent were tasked with recreating the efficient synchronization of a double to compete at the highest level.

And in just one year, after a very competitive race, they became vice-world champions in Lucerne. Since then, they have confirmed their stature at major events, until their world title in 2003.

August 21, 2004, the day of the Olympic coronation

August 21, 2004, 10:10 a.m., the Athenian sun warms the Olympic rowing center. The audience watches the seven boats prepare and the French duo settles into line 5 for a very competitive final.

Indeed, to their left, two teams are inviting themselves to the status of favorites. The Italians who have dominated the season with great regularity. Not forgetting the Slovenians, Olympic champions in Sydney, who are thirsty to retain their title. Top! the start is given. The rowers accelerate to reach their cruising speed and the Italians are already starting to pull away. But don't panic, our French have a strategy.

Let the Italians take a few meters of lead, to overtake them at their weak point: the end of the race. Meanwhile, they just have to apply their technical skills, the strength of the French.

First 500 meters, level with the Slovenians, the French control their effort and are almost a second behind the Italians. Halfway through the race, the tension rises, the Italians have widened the gap and gained 7 tenths on their competitors. The Slovenians decide to react and make their effort. Last 500 meters, the time for the last efforts has sounded, the three boats find themselves neck and neck. Only 7 tenths separate the first from the third.

Final against the Italians

The Italians start to grimace and show signs of weakness. While the French duo, who have managed to keep their energy thanks to their technique, decide to spice up the end of the race. The pace of the oars accelerates to widen the gap. Adrien Hardy and Sébastien Vieilledent became Olympic champions after 6 minutes 29 of effort, more than 2.72 seconds ahead of the Slovenians.

20 years later, this victory still remains in the memory of French rowing. As for our Nîmes native, Adrien Hardy continued his career until he became one of the French athletes with the most complete list of achievements. 25 medals in major championships, 12 French champion titles, 1 former world record… The list is long. In short, even if he no longer competes, Adrien Hardy is still a big name in his discipline.

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