Michel, Georges

Georges Alphonse André Michel, born April 8 1890 in Sainte-Menehould and died May 6 1960 in Paris

A professional baker like his father, Georges Michel lived in the 16th arrondissement of Paris in 1910, then settled in Marly-le-Roi in 1913. He then lived in Levallois-Perret from 1921 to 1934 before moving to Neuilly -sur-Seine from 1934 to 1939.

Mobilized as a service gunner, he served in the front artillery throughout the First World War.

In addition to his profession as a baker, Georges Michel also worked as a swimming instructor. When he died, he was a merchant in Saint-Just-en-Chaussée (Oise).

From 1908 he trained at the Swimmers Club Paris. In 1909, he was second in the swimming circuit and third in the following year.

In the professional swim across Paris, Georges Michel won in 1918. He finished second in the same event in 1910 and 1917 as well as in 1924 , finished third of the race in 1908 and fourth in 1911 and 1912. In 1909 and 1911, he was second in the swim across Lyon. He also came third twice in the 1920 and 1921 editions of the Christmas Cup, an annual race crossing the Seine at Pont Alexandre III in Paris. In 1913 he was fourth in the Lille swim.

In August 1926, he won the Corbeil-Paris nautical marathon and shortly after became the first Frenchman to cross the English Channel on his eleventh attempt from Cap Gris-Nez. He established a record of 11 hours and 5 minutes that lasted for nearly a quarter of a century, until 1950 when it was surpassed in 11 hours 5 seconds.

In August 1927, Georges Michel participated in the race crossing Lake Ontario, 33.8 km i lengtho. He finished second, behind German Vierkoetter, a baker in Cologne. This performance allowed him to pocket $ 7,500 ($ 30,000 for Vierkoetter). Shortly before, he had tried in vain to cross Lake Geneva.

In September 1928, he was the last to retire after 12 miles in 10-degree water at the annual Toronto Lake Water Marathon, when more than twenty nations were represented