Pioneer of women's running: Frenchwoman Lucie Bréard
Spiridon No. 70 - international running magazine - Oct-Nov 1983
Women's running is not what it used to be.
"Allowed" to run the 800m at the 1960 Games, and then the 1500m at the 1968 Games, women have just been able to compete in the European and then the World Marathon Championships in quick succession. While waiting for their first Olympic marathon, it's worth taking a look back.
But not to mention what everyone now knows: the Boston Marathon and Kathy Switzer in 1967, the clandestine runners of Morat-Fribourg (where we find Kathy Switzer!), the influence of Dr van Aaken, the pioneers that were the Australian Beames, the Americans Gibbs, Kuscsik, Boitano, Ullyot, the Italian Pigni, the German Vahlensieck, the Hungarian Monspart, the French Baudein, Scharff, Schoving, Seigneuric, Langlacé, Loir... and all those who followed.
But if we look further back, even before the 800m in Rome, what do we find? Just that 800m at the 1928 Games, where, poorly trained, several women collapsed as soon as they crossed the finish line. This was widely publicized by the world press, with the success we all know.
One of our readers, Jacques Carmelli, a passionate statistician, took the trouble to go back even further, discovering that one of the greatest pioneers of women's running is a Frenchwoman: Lucie Bréard, who now lives near Toulon, where Carmelli met her. -NT
For both 1920 and 1924, they had been refused invitations to participate in the Olympic Games. Faced with this stubbornness, the leaders of the FSFI (International Women's Sports Federation) decided to organize World Women's Games. After the frustration of the Antwerp Games, a world women's meeting was held in Monaco in 1921. This time, these Games took place in Paris.
On August 20, 1922, 20,000 spectators crowded into Pershing Stadium (whose track measured 500.30 m around), despite stiff competition from the swim across Paris. During the opening ceremony, Mrs. Paulette DeCroze requested, on behalf of the French Women's Federation, permission "to open the first women's Olympic Games in the world in Paris." The president responded by proclaiming "the Paris Women's Olympic Games are open."
The competitions took place under the supervision of Émile Anthoine, referee and head of the jury. The organization was deemed "perfect, without outside help." The only drawback: there were too many officials in the stadium (around thirty).
The performances were remarkable: official world records were broken one after the other, thanks to American, English, Czech, and Swiss athletes. But as the day wore on, there was still no French victory...
Then came the final event, the 1000m. Our chances were good: Georgette Lenoir seemed in good shape, but Lucie Bréard, the French champion and therefore automatically qualified, had not been seen training at her club for three months.
Also in the running for this final race are two English women, Phyllis Hall and Elisabeth Batt, as well as two Americans, Lucie Goldbold and Miss Snow.
The Americans lead the first lap at a brisk pace, with the French close behind. At the 300m mark, Miss Snow is attacked by Lenoir, who has just overtaken Goldbold and Hall. In 5th place, Lucie Bréard has dropped Miss Batt, who is already in distress. 500m times: Lenoir, 1:29.5”, Goldbold 1:29.4”, and Hall 1:30”. Bréard seems to be keeping up easily, while Snow quickly falls back.
On the second lap, Lenoir sets off. Miss Goldbold, who has slowed considerably, finds herself distanced by Lenoir, to the point of being overtaken by Bréard. At the 800 m mark, Lenoir is 2'30"2/5, with a 5 m lead over Bréard; Hall is more than 3 seconds behind, followed by Goldbold.
With 100 meters to go, Bréard caught up with Lenoir, and it was a long neck and neck battle! Lenoir dove on the wire, exhausted, and had to be revived in the locker room. But, as Pierre Pelletier indicated, Bréard managed to "beat her by a very small margin." And, while the exhausted competitors collapsed from fatigue once they crossed the finish line, Miss Bréard, "all joyful and smiling," gave in to the request of a delighted crowd, and "allowed herself the luxury of running 500 more meters" for a lap of honor!
Results: Bréard 3'12"0, Lenoir 3'12"1/5, Hall 3'25"0, Goldbold 3'28"3/5, then Batt and Snow. In other words, a world record - Lenoir held the old record, 3'17"2/5 - and three national records.
"Finally, a French victory in the final round. And everyone will feel satisfied. France had saved its honor."
But who was Lucie Bréard?
Bréard, Lucie, Marie, was born on September 12, 1902, in Paris, into a modest family. Her father was successively a "sailor" at the Grande Roue, an office worker at the Compagnie des Petites Voitures, before working at Peugeot. Her mother was a head linen maid at Le Bon Marché.
Lucie attended a normal school until she obtained her school leaving certificate, which was no small feat at the time... And very early on, she began working painting toy soldiers. Then her parents introduced her to a music publisher, Leduc, on rue Saint-Honoré in Paris, who took her on as a trial replacement for two weeks. And he kept her for 44 years, until 1962.
In 1917, a work friend took her to the Gymnase de la rue du Bac, which she attended regularly from then on, despite her parents' reluctance. She began by doing trapeze to strengthen her arms. And, for better body balance—an idea dear to Mrs. Milliat—she practiced double-arm throws.
This is how Lucie Bréard discovered the Fémina Sports club, the Porte d'Orléans stadium, and its director, Mr. Payssé. Lucie runs for pleasure, without any apparent effort. Already, she's only interested in victory, not time.
One day in 1920, she was asked to replace a club mate at short notice for the French cross-country championships, which were taking place in Antony over a distance of around 3,500 meters. Lucie donned the navy blue outfit and wore the same-colored beret, emblazoned with the club's initials. She gripped the handles to help her focus. And off she went!
Mr. Bréard senior, who had accompanied her, will wait for her near the finish line. The officials, excited, call on the spectators. Thus, Mr. Bréard is given a small flag that he must lower to announce the arrival of the winner. He waits with a little anxiety and...who does he see arriving? His daughter! Overcome with emotion, he drops the flag...
From then on, there was no obstacle for Lucie, who was allowed to go to the gym two evenings a week to train. As well as in the morning at 5 a.m., before going to work.
This first major victory will be celebrated even in the newspapers across the Atlantic:
“Mlle Bréard, 17 years old, beyond sixty competitors and won the Paris girls marathon. »
1920
On July 11, Lucie competed in the French Championships in Montrouge. In 3:24.0, she set a new world record for the kilometer, even though she was still a junior. With Delapierre, Welcker, and Th Brulé, her teammates from Fémina, she set a new record for the 4 x 250 m, a time of 2:39.0.
That year, she won the Deschanel Cup, awarded to the athlete who achieves three victories in the same day.
"Because I liked this cup, I won the 80, 250 and 1000 m!"
She crowned this first great season by winning the women's federation cross-country race on December 19 in St-Cloud, with her club winning the team event.
1921
On January 30, Lucie won the Verrières cross-country race. The prize for the first two finishers was a… first flight with Sadi Lecointe. But the latter suffered an accident shortly afterward, and Lucie was unable to take flight.
The races in the glades prepare for the track season, which begins very early, with the organization, in March in Monaco, of the first Women's World Games. On the 174m grass track of the Terrain du Tir-au-Pigeon, athletes from Great Britain, France and Switzerland will meet, from the 24th to the 31st. Eclecticism is the rule: Lucie is registered for the 60m, the high jump, the long jump, the javelin, the 65m hurdles, the 250m and the 800m.
She fell in the hurdles during the repechage, was 3rd in the long jump, 5th in the javelin, 2nd in the 250m, but with "admirable heart" she won the 800m on March 30th ahead of her great rival, the Englishwoman Mary Lines, in 2'30''1/5, a new world record.
Continuing her momentum, Lucie would shine in the following months. On May 29, she set an official 500m record in Pershing, in 1:33.25 seconds. On July 3, at the FFSF championships in Pershing, she won the 300m in 46.45 seconds and set a world record for the kilometer in 3:20.35 seconds.
On July 17, at the Elisabeth stadium, Lucie won the 60m in 8.35 inches. Finally, with her teammates from Fémina (Delapierre, Boyer and Th. Brulé), she set a record in the 4 x 50m in 28.35 inches.
In Paris, on July 31, the Fémina Sports de Paris met the Fémina Sports de Genève, and Lucie won twice: in the 250 m in 38”2/5, ahead of Suzanne Liébrard, then in the 1000 m, in 3'28”4/5, ahead of Cadies.
"Out the door! Too many men..."
[…] The interest shown in the women athletes by the many supporters and cinema operators showed how great the curiosity was. All the numerous officials who invaded the track seemed to me like a flock of bumblebees falling on the stalls, so much so that a voice was heard from the stands: "Out! Too many men for a women's meeting!" It seemed to me that far too many people in the audience had eyes only for bare legs and thighs and not enough for the gestures performed. Those who sought the spectacle got it, but they must have been disappointed, because it must be admitted that the performances were above aesthetics.
[…] There is no doubt that in a short time, women will significantly improve their records because they still have a lot to learn in terms of style. But should we push them in this direction? Not yet. I believe that it would be detrimental to women to skip the stages that we ourselves have taken so long to climb. (...) The women's movement is still too recent for athletes to have sufficient preparation for prolonged efforts such as the 300 m and 1000 meters. Perhaps there will come a time after several generations, when women will be able to afford the same efforts as us, but that time has not yet arrived. (...)
Géo André , Le Miroir des Sports , end of August 1922, document provided by F. and S. Laget, authors of the “Grand Livre du Sport féminine”.
In great shape, she will line up on August 7 at the Pershing stadium over 440 yards, a distance she has never run, and she wins in 67.1/5, ahead of Gisclard and Liebon, moving on to the 400 m in 66.4/5. Two new world records, followed by another in the 4 x 75 m relay, in 42.4/5, with Delapierre, S. Liébrard and Th. Brulé, and a French 4 x 100 m record, in 56.2/5, with Th. Brulé, S. Liébrard and Maugars for the Fémina. A very busy day!
Lucie is preparing for another meeting with Lines. All the athletes are motivated, having received a letter like this: "Miss, you have been selected for the France-England match for the following events: 1000m, 1st relay replacement. Your blouse will be available to you at the Federation headquarters from Thursday 27th. Important recommendation: you must realize the very great importance of this match, and the federation expects you to do everything possible to ensure the French colors triumph, and that you will also conscientiously state before the events whether you feel fit enough to compete for our [sic] chances. It is a question of winning a national victory. It is of the utmost importance to fight to the end."
The match took place at Pershing Stadium on October 30. England's Lines would be the star of the meeting with three victories: in the 100 yards, 300 m, and the 4 x 220 yards relay, plus a second place in the long jump. But Lines would avoid meeting Lucie Bréard in the 1000 m, where Lucie would win in 3:27.45, ahead of Petit at 10 m; she would also finish 4th in the 300 m, a distance that was a bit short for her.
England won 48 to 38.
1922 or the Games
Lucie planned 1922, not participating in the French cross-country championships, and she modified her preparation and training to increase her chances. She no longer attended her club and instead trained with the men.
The departure takes place around 6 p.m., by bus, then by metro, towards Fontenay-sous-Bois, near the Fort de Nogent, where it arrives around 7:30 p.m.
For almost three months, Lucie joined her number 1 supporter, André Jurion, himself an excellent cross-country runner and 1500m runner, and the athletes of CASG, "La Générale", as they say, which counts among its members Corlet, Manhès, Isola.
Twice a week, training begins with undressing in the back room of a café. The women first, then the men. The workout consists of varied runs, all over terrain, but there's no real schedule or training plan. Lucie returns home around 10 p.m. for dinner. She also frequently benefits from Émile Anthoine's wise advice.
And when she takes to the track on August 20, as we've said, no one is expecting her anymore, no one believes in her. The club director is even hesitant to have her compete in the 1000m.
After his victorious race, the American team manager offered him a six-month stint at a school to give demonstrations. But the Federation opposed the offer, under penalty of disqualification.
Lucie was in great demand after the Games, and she participated in several meetings. Towards the end of the year, she presented herself with a letter from the president of the Federation, Alice Milliat, to collect her prize at Mr. Canale's, Quai de l'Horloge, who allowed "the bearer of this present to choose a gold or ivory medal, if they prefer, under the conditions we have indicated."
Disqualification
Then the drama struck. After her victory, and perhaps a little intoxicated, but certainly ignorant of the rules, she met the thrower Raoul Paoli and the 400m runner Gaston Féry, who persuaded her to sign a license for Olympique, a club that had a very nice stadium, the Bergeyre stadium, on the Buttes-Chaumont. Except that she was still licensed with Fémina-Sports.
The president of Fémina would not forgive her. After a quick disciplinary hearing, she received a one-year suspension. This measure was later (in June 1923) reduced to six months. Lucie refused.
She was contacted again in 1926 - by letter dated July 29, signed by the secretary of the FFSF - in these terms: "Miss, in view of the 2nd International Games which will take place in Gothenburg (Gothenburg) in Sweden, we would be obliged if you could let us know by Thursday evening, August 2, whether, in the event that you are selected, you could travel from August 25 to September 7." Although in good shape, Lucie refused.
— I looked like a Norman, I said no!
Very disappointed, she later regretted not having accepted the offer to go to the United States.
The Olympic
In 1923, Lucie Bréard was at the Olympique de Marseille. She attended a few meetings, but also turned to football. Her sister Suzanne joined her. Lucie was drawn to various sports: like most female athletes of the time, she was not what we would call a specialist today. She also played barrette— the equivalent of rugby without the scrums —and basketball.
Lucie no longer participated in athletics except as an amateur, for pleasure or for her club. In football, she was a multiple international, as a right winger, and she continued to play for several more years. For example, in Paris, against England, in 1935, and in Le Havre, against Belgium in 1937.
Meanwhile, on July 15, 1924, Lucie Bréard married her number one supporter, André Jurion, who worked like her in the Leduc music publishing house.
The family
The Bréard family was not particularly suited to sport, and yet Lucie was not alone:
— Yvonne was a talented skater, at the time of the Norwegian Sonja Heinje, but she was taken from the affections of her family at the age of 20;
— Renée played football;
— Suzanne, born in 1906, could have succeeded her sister, because she shone in the 3'32” 2/5 kilometer in 1923. We know that she joined Lucie in the Olympique football team;
— André, a promising 400m runner, died too soon in Syria.
Nostalgia
Lucie Bréard remembers:
— For every victory, there was a cup or a medal (which she generously distributed around her) and the only gift I ever received, in my entire career, apart from an official award, was a pair of spiked shoes, offered by my shoemaker, in exchange for a signed photo!
She retired to Anjou with her husband. Since moving on her own, she has come to Toulon. But although she no longer runs, she still follows sports, comments on the selections, actively participates in a number of former athletes' associations, and travels extensively. She attended the 1976 Montreal Games and is now preparing for Los Angeles.
Lucie Bréard, a great lady of athletics.
Jacques Carmelli (ASFA-ATFS)
Spiridon No. 70 - international running magazine - Oct-Nov 1983