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Camille Lacourt Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birthApril 22, 1985

Age39 Years (as of 2024)

BirthplaceFont-Romeu

ProfessionSports commentator & former swimmer

NationalityFrench

Marital statusMarried

SpouseAlice Detollenaere

FamilyChildren: Jazz (daughter, b. October 2012), Marius (son, b. 2021)

Camille Lacourt Biography

French backstroke specialist turned sports commentator, Camille Lacourt became one of France’s most decorated swimmers with multiple world and European 50m

Early life and background
Camille Lacourt was born on April 22, 1985, in Font-Romeu, a mountain town in the Pyrénées Orientales where he grew up surrounded by outdoor sports. He discovered the water as a very small child and was entered in local competitions by the time he was five. Those early experiences in Font-Romeu set the foundation for a long swimming career.

Career
Lacourt developed into an elite backstroke swimmer, rising through regional and national ranks before joining coach Philippe Lucas’ group in Canet-en-Roussillon in 2006. He broke his first French record in the 50m backstroke in 2007 and moved into the Marseille swimmers’ program in 2008.

The year 2010 was a breakthrough: Lacourt won European titles in the 50m and 100m backstroke and was part of the gold-medal 4x100m medley relay in Budapest. He set a European record in the 100m backstroke that season and posted one of the fastest times ever in both the 50m and 100m backstroke events.

On the world stage Lacourt collected multiple medals across several championships. Highlights include gold and silver medals at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, two golds at the 2013 World Championships in Barcelona, and a gold, a silver and a bronze at the 2015 Worlds in Kazan. He claimed three consecutive world titles in the 50m backstroke with wins in 2013, 2015 and 2017, completing that hat-trick in Budapest in 2017 and announcing his retirement later that year.

Olympic competition brought mixed results. Lacourt narrowly missed a podium finish at the 2012 London Olympics when he placed fourth in the 100m backstroke. He again reached finals at the 2016 Rio Olympics, finishing fifth in the 100m backstroke, but did not medal. Injury interrupted his momentum in 2014 when a hip problem kept him out of the European Championships, though he returned to win two European titles in 2016.

After retiring from competition, Lacourt transitioned into media and business. He trained as a corporate speaker and joined Canal Sport+ as a commentator. He also explored television appearances, including Dancing with the Stars and the game show Fort Boyard in 2021. In 2017 he opened a cocktail bar called Fidèle in Paris’s Saint-Germain-des-Prés, housed in a building that once served as a 1920s-era theater.

Public profile
Lacourt has a notable physical presence as a former elite athlete: he stands two meters tall (6'7") and maintained a competition weight around 85 kilograms (188 pounds). He has light brown hair and blue eyes. Outside the pool he has pursued endurance sports such as running and skiing — activities rooted in his upbringing — and has taken part in events like the Nice Ironman and the Paris Marathon. He is also a golfer and an animal lover who owns a dog named Sumo.

Personality and interests
Known for a disciplined approach to training, Lacourt has described a modest lifestyle off the field, noting conservatism in his spending. He enjoys sushi and red wine on occasion, and has credited influences such as philosophical reading. He has several tattoos and co-wrote a book titled "Guérie par ton amour" with Alice Detollenaere.

Personal life
Lacourt is French and was married in 2013. His relationships that have been publicly reported include a marriage to Valérie Bègue, winner of Miss France 2008, and a later partnership with fashion model Alice Detollenaere. He has two children: a daughter, Jazz, born in October 2012, and a son, Marius, born in 2021 with Alice Detollenaere.

Later developments and public statements
During his career Lacourt was outspoken about doping in swimming and publicly criticized other athletes amid broader controversies in the sport. After stepping away from competition he focused on broadcasting, hospitality and occasional television projects while remaining active in endurance sports and public events.

Latest updates
Since retiring in 2017, Lacourt has worked as a sports commentator for Canal Sport+ and continued to make media appearances, including Fort Boyard in 2021. He remains involved in his Paris cocktail bar and in endurance athletics, and has taken part in public speaking and writing projects.
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Recent Work

Sports commentator at Canal Sport+

Works as a commentator following retirement from competitive swimming.

Post-2017
Fidèle (cocktail bar)

Opened a cocktail bar in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris, in 2017.

2017
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Career Highlights

  1. Three consecutive World Championship golds in the 50m backstroke (2013, 2015, 2017)
  2. Five-time World Swimming Champion
  3. Five-time European Champion
  4. 21-time French Champion
  5. Set a European record in the 100m backstroke (2010)
  6. Multiple World Championship medals across 2011, 2013 and 2015
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Camille Lacourt born?

April 22, 1985

What is Camille Lacourt known for?

Sports commentator & former swimmer

What is Camille Lacourt’s marital status?

Married

Who is Camille Lacourt married to?

Alice Detollenaere