Laurent Vidal


Laurent Vidal was a French professional triathlete, three time French Champion and two time Olympian. In Beijing 2008 he placed 36th while he took the 5th place in London 2012.
Vidal was one of the most consistent performers in the International Triathlon Union Circuit, consistently improving years after years. Laurent Vidal spent his life between Sète, France and Christchurch, New Zealand, the hometown of his fiancée Andrea Hewitt. Vidal had a bachelor's degree in Sports Management.

Sports career and Death

At his ITU debut in Hungary, Vidal became European Vice Champion, and one year later in 2003 he placed fourth at the World Championships in New Zealand. In 2008, he represented France at the Olympic Games, in 2010 he won the Oceania Championships, and in 2011 he placed 7th at both European and World Championships.
In 2012, he started the year winning the Geelong Oceania Cup and the opening round of World Cup Circuit in Mooloolaba, followed by a bronze medal at the first World Championship event in Sydney. In June 2012, he became leader of the ITU Point List for the first time of his career.
In London Olympic Games he crossed the line in 5th position.
He finished 2012 with a win the prestigious GARMIN Alpen-Triathlon in Schliersee, a 3rd national title and placed 7th at world champs.
After a long post Olympic break, Vidal finished 2013 ranked number 7 in the World Triathlon Series ranking, his 4th top 8th since 2009 in this ranking.
In 2013 he also won the Kinloch Oceania Cup, the GARMIN Alpen-Triathlon in Schliersee repeating his 2012 performance.
In France, Vidal took part in the prestigious French Club Championship Series and, represented TC Lievin.
In Germany, Vidal was among the international guest stars of EJOT Team Buschhütten, which he represented in the Bundesliga.
Vidal was a member of the French Military Triathlon Team , whose basis is the Ecoles militaires de Draguignan.
In April 2014 Vidal suffered a cardiopulmonary arrest whilst swimming in Sète, which led to his being placed in an induced coma. As a result, he was forced to retire from competition and focus on his role coaching Hewitt. On 10 November 2015, Vidal died at the age of 31 after cardiac arrest at his home in Gigean, Hérault, France.

ITU competitions

In the nine years from 2002 to 2010, Vidal took part in 53 ITU competitions and achieved 25 top ten positions.
The following list is based upon the official ITU rankings and the ITU Athletes's Profile Page.
Unless indicated otherwise, the following events are triathlons and refer to the Elite category.
DateCompetitionPlaceRank
2002-07-06 European Championships Győr2
2002-11-09 World Championships Cancun19
2003-06-21 European Championships Carlsbad 14
2003-12-06 World Championships Queenstown4
2004-05-09 World Championships Madeira7
2004-09-04 World CupHamburgDNF
2005-06-05 World CupMadridDNF
2005-07-17 European Championships Sofia37
2005-07-31 World CupSalford14
2005-09-10 World Championships GamagoriDNF
2005-09-17 OSIM World CupBeijing48
2006-03-03 World CupDoha11
2006-06-11 BG World CupRichards Bay40
2006-06-23 European ChampionshipsAutunDNF
2006-09-17 Premium European CupKedzierzyn Kozle24
2006-10-08 European and Pan American Cup, Iberoamerican ChampionshipsBaeza3
2006-10-18 Premium European CupAlanya3
2006-11-05 BG World CupCancun45
2007-03-04 Oceania ChampionshipsGeelong6
2007-03-25 BG World CupMooloolaba25
2007-05-06 BG World CupLisbon8
2007-06-03 BG World CupMadrid8
2007-06-29 European ChampionshipsCopenhagen6
2007-07-22 BG World CupKitzbühel12
2007-07-29 BG World CupSalford14
2007-08-30 BG World ChampionshipsHamburg28
2007-09-15 BG World CupBeijing49
2008-03-09 Oceania ChampionshipsWellingtonDNF
2008-03-30 BG World CupMooloolaba51
2008-04-06 BG World CupNew PlymouthDNS
2008-05-04 BG World CupRichards Bay5
2008-05-25 BG World CupMadrid8
2008-06-05 BG World ChampionshipsVancouver16
2008-07-20 BG World CupKitzbühel6
2008-08-18 Olympic GamesBeijing36
2008-09-27 BG World CupLorient5
2008-10-26 BG World CupHuatulco3
2009-03-29 World CupMooloolaba5
2009-04-05 Oceania CupNew Plymouth9
2009-05-02 Dextro Energy World Championship SeriesTongyeong8
2009-05-31 Dextro Energy World Championship SeriesMadrid13
2009-06-21 Dextro Energy World Championship SeriesWashington DC7
2009-07-02 European ChampionshipsHolten26
2009-07-11 Dextro Energy World Championship SeriesKitzbühel3
2009-08-15 Dextro Energy World Championship SeriesLondon5
2009-08-22 Dextro Energy World Championship SeriesYokohama4
2009-09-09 Dextro Energy World Championship Series: Grand FinalGold Coast9
2010-03-13 Oceania ChampionshipsWellington1
2010-04-11 Dextro Energy World Championship SeriesSydney8
2010-05-08 Dextro Energy World Championship SeriesSeoul21
2010-06-12 Elite CupHy-Vee12
2010-07-03 European ChampionshipsAthlone5
2010-07-24 Dextro Energy World Championship SeriesLondon12
2010-08-14 Dextro Energy World Championship SeriesKitzbühelDNF
2011-03-26 World CupMooloolaba12
2011-04-09 Dextro Energy World Championship SeriesSydneyDNF
2011-06-04 Dextro Energy World Championship SeriesMadrid12
2011-06-18 Dextro Energy World Championship SeriesKitzbühel6
2011-06-24 European ChampionshipsPontevedra7
2011-08-06 Dextro Energy World Championship SeriesLondon6
2011-08-20 Dextro Energy World Championship Series: Sprint World ChampionshipsLausanne6
2011-09-09 Dextro Energy World Championship Series, Grand FinalBeijing5

DNS = did not start · DNF = did not finish · BG = the sponsor British Gas