Alain Bernard to announce shock retirement?

  • By Smith Alexander
  • Paris
  • Last updated on

French Olympic champion created a stir on Saturday when rumors have surfaced that his career was over.
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Sad news for Bernard fans. Speculation had been rife that French Olympic champion will announce his retirement from sports, at age 43, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 17/05/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being an athlete isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being an athlete just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouAlain

For a little while on Saturday evening, #ThankYouAlain was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“You’ve accomplished everything I ever dreamed of #ThankYouAlain.”
— @DesireePlum, 16 May 2026
“I thought Alain Bernard retired about 5 years ago?!?”
— @millythom, 16 May 2026

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