Amaury Leveaux: Two-time Olympic silver medallist and French freestyle specialist
Amaury Leveaux is the two-time Olympic silver medallist and French freestyle specialist who has proved his mettle at all international stages. With his incredible efforts, Leveaux has stepped on the podium at all international stages and is one of those
key players of French swimming team that bring medals home swelling with pride.
The 26-year-old Leveaux specialises in freestyle and butterfly discipline. With his commendable efforts, Leveaux has stood on the podium of Olympic Games, World Championships, European Championships Long Course (LC), European Championships Short Course (SC)
and Mediterranean Games.
He surfaced on the international stage of swimming for the first time in 2004, where he devastated hopes of his competitors at the national swimming championship and qualified for the 2004 European LC Championships. Leveaux made his way into the French squad
for the 4*100m freestyle and 4*200m freestyle relay.
With his promising efforts in the relay team, French team finished third in both events whereas Leveaux turned into a national hero.
Next year, Leveaux found his way into the top two 200m freestyle finishers and qualified for the 200m freestyle along with the 4*100m freestyle and 4*200m freestyle relays at the 2005 Mediterranean Games. He captured a gold medal in the 4*100m freestyle
relay discipline while pocketed bronze medal in the 200m freestyle and 4*200m freestyle relay.
After two years of international experience, Leveaux started to train for the butterfly discipline and surprisingly, he succeeded in making his way to the 2006 Budapest European LC Championships in the 100m butterfly discipline. With his nerve-wrecking form
at the tournament, he obtained his first silver medal in the double lap butterfly event. He also captured a bronze medal being a part of the 4*100m freestyle.
With his gruelling efforts and a significant improve in his timing, Leveaux proved his eligibility for the 4*100m freestyle French team to the 2007 Melbourne World Championships. His exhausting effort and determination enabled French team to reach the podium
for bronze medal of the relay event while Leveaux failed to achieve the medal rostrum in any individual discipline.
Subsequently, Leveaux’s invincible efforts made him the key player of his team for the 2008 European SC Championships in Rijeka. The 26-year-old French star was scheduled to participate in the events of 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 4*50m
freestyle. He met expectations of his fans by clinching gold medals in all four events. The same year, he competed in the European LC Championships in Eindhoven, where he secured silver medal of the 200m freestyle.
After the European titles, Leveaux went under a gruelling training program, as he wanted to achieve the victory stand of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. His scintillating form at the earlier European meets qualified him in the French squad for the 2008 Olympics.
He was listed to compete in the 50m freestyle and 4*100m freestyle relay. Leveaux demonstrated his exceptional efforts in the 50m discipline and won silver medal of the event. With his stupendous efforts, the French squad engaged in stroke-to-stroke battle
with the USA swimming team that was trying hard to help his eighth gold medal of the championship.
The French squad remained just a nail away from American team and Leveaux reached the podium for bronze medal of the event.
The following year, he grabbed two bronze medals in the 50m freestyle and 4*100m freestyle at the 2009 Rome World Championships. Then, he seized a silver medal in the 4*100m freestyle at the 2010 Budapest European LC Championships. He also claimed the silver
medal of the 50m butterfly at the 2011 Szczecin European SC Championships while failed to substantiate any victory in the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai.
With the upcoming 2012 London Olympic Games, it would be interesting to see, how Leveaux performs in his main events at the battle royal.
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