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Aurélie MULLER
Sport Open Water Swimming
NOC France   
GenderWomen
Born07 Jun 1990 in Sarreguemines, FRA
Height1.69 m
 Human Interest 
General Interest
Sporting philosophy / motto
"All the power comes from the muscles, but the strength comes from the heart." (Facebook page, 20 Apr 2021)
Milestones
She became the first French swimmer to win a gold medal in open water swimming at the world championships when she triumphed in the 10km event at the 2015 edition in Kazan, Russian Federation. (swimmingworldmagazine.com, 28 Jul 2015; SportsDeskOnline, 05 Jun 2018)
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport?
Her father enrolled her in swimming lessons.
General Interest
Injuries
She was unable to compete at the 2021 World Series event in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, after testing positive for the COVID-19 virus. (Facebook page, 12 Dec 2021)
Ambitions
To win a medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. (republicain-lorrain.fr, 07 Oct 2021)
Further Personal Information
Residence
Sarreguemines, FRA
Occupation
Athlete
Languages
French
General Interest
Other information
COACH CHANGES AND TOKYO DISAPPOINTMENT
After missing out on qualification for the 10km open water event at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, she decided to focus her efforts on competing in Tokyo in the 1500m freestyle pool event. As a result, she left coach Philippe Lucas and relocated to Nice, France, in 2019 to begin training under Fabrice Pellerin. "With the 1500m [freestyle] being a new Olympic distance for women I thought, 'Why not?' I had to leave Philippe [Lucas]. We were sad to leave each other, a large number of my medals are thanks to Philippe." In early 2021 she spent time working with Magali Merino in Fontainebleau, France, before relocating to Sarreguemines, France, to train with Gilles Cattani. Despite winning the 1500m freestyle at the 2021 French Championships, she was unable to swim under the Olympic qualifying time and again missed out on the chance to compete at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. "Not qualifying in my flagship discipline [10km open water], my choice to attempt the 1500m to take advantage of this 'lost' Olympic year, the uncertainty linked to COVID-19, the changes of coaches and way of training. All of this was disrupting. Still, I have no regrets. I took the choices and possibilities that were offered to me." (rmcsport.bfmtv.com, 09 Oct 2019; lequipe.fr, 14 Jul 2019, 17 Jul 2019, 09 Oct 2019; republicain-lorrain.fr, 17 Jun 2021; ffnatation.fr, 16 Jun 2021; sarreguemines.fr, 02 Feb 2022)

RIO DISQUALIFICATION
She was disqualified from the 10km open water race at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, after judges ruled that she had pushed Italian swimmer Rachele Bruni's arm down to stop her touching the board at the end. "What happened in Rio is now part of me, of my story, whether I like it or not. I'll have to live with that. I cannot say if it hurts me, but as soon as I see a Rio medallist, a report, it stirs me. As soon as I see Brazil on a sign or on products, I turn my head." (SportsDeskOnline, 05 Jun 2018; leparisien.fr, 29 Dec 2016; ONS, 15 Aug 2016)

OLYMPIC 'CURSE'
After disqualification from the 10km event at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and failing to qualify for the event at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, she was asked whether she believed her Olympic open water ambitions were 'cursed'. "No, that is impossible. I still believe in it, I know I have an Olympic destiny awaiting me. Paris 2024 is a long way away. Of course I have thought about 2024 but I have no idea yet. As long as I am enjoying swimming I will continue to swim." (rmcsport.bfmtv.com, 09 Oct 2019)

FURTHER STUDIES
She has a diploma in both sports education and professional athlete career management. (womensports.fr, 15 Apr 2018)
Sport Specific Information
Club / Team
CN Sarreguemines: France
Name of coach
Gilles Cattani [club], from 2021
General Interest
Hobbies
Cooking, gliding, extreme sports, listening to music. (Facebook page, 18 Jul 2019)
Awards and honours
She was named 2015 and 2017 Female Open Water Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World magazine. (swimmingworldmagazine.com, 02 Nov 2017, 15 Oct 2018)

She was named the European Swimming League [LEN] Female Open Water Swimmer of the Year in 2015 and 2017. (swimswam.com, 22 Jan 2018, 07 Jan 2016)
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?
She began swimming when she was a baby. At age 12 she was selected to represent her school, and progressed from there.

 Competition Highlights
European Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
Heats 2014 Berlin, GER 1500m Freestyle 16:45.50
Heats 2010 Budapest, HUN 1500m Freestyle 16:42.79
World Cup
Rank Year Venue Event Result
5 2019 Berlin, GER 800m Freestyle 8:54.71
World Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
7 2023 Fukuoka, JPN 5km 59:40.1
5 2023 Fukuoka, JPN 6km - Team Relay  
2 2022 Budapest, HUN 5km 57:53.8
4 2022 Budapest, HUN 10km 2:02:36.1
4 2022 Budapest, HUN 6km - Team Relay  
2 2019 Gwangju, KOR 5km 57:57.0
11 2019 Gwangju, KOR 10km 1:54:51.2
6 2019 Gwangju, KOR 5km - Team Relay 54:37.1
8 2017 Budapest, HUN 25km 5:28:25.3
1 2017 Budapest, HUN 10km 2:00:13.7
2 2017 Budapest, HUN 5km 59:10.5
1 2017 Budapest, HUN 5km - Team Relay 54:05.9
4 2015 Kazan, RUS 25km 5:16:07.5
1 2015 Kazan, RUS 10km 1:58:04.3
11 2015 Kazan, RUS 5km - Team Time Trial 56:50.9
9 2013 Barcelona, ESP 5km 56:46.5
7 2013 Barcelona, ESP 5km - Team Time Trial 55:26.3
2 2011 Shanghai, CHN 5km 1:00:40.1
41 2009 Rome, ITA 10km 2:09:23.7
European Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
6 2022 Rome, ITA 5km 57:03.3
9 2022 Rome, ITA 10km 2:02:21.6
3 2022 Rome, ITA 5km - Team Relay 1:00:08.3
1 2016 Hoorn, NED 10km 2:07:00.1
4 2014 Berlin, GER 10km 1:56:09.2
6 2014 Berlin, GER 5km - Team Time Trial 56:39.8
4 2010 Balatonfüred, HUN 10km 2:01:09.3
World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup
Rank Year Venue Event Result
5 2023   10km  
34 2023 Funchal, POR 10km 2:00:55.6
7 2023 Golfo Aranci, ITA 10km 1:56:32.0
13 2022   10km  
4 2022 Eilat, ISR 10km 1:56:25.4
18 2022 Paris, FRA 10km 2:03:41.58
41 2021   10km  
25 2021 Doha, QAT 10km 2:01:56.2
26 2019   10km  
5 2019 Beau Vallon, SEY 10km 2:01:44.40
24 2018   10km  
5 2018 Abu Dhabi, UAE 10km 2:00:27.0
11 2017   10km  
1 2017 Abu Dhabi, UAE 10km 1:52:35.3
1 2016 Abu Dhabi, UAE 10km 1:58:05.00
1 2015 Nouméa, NCL 10km 2:09:18.70
15 2014 Setúbal, POR 10km 2:05:50.9
4 2012 Cancún, MEX 10km 2:10:15.35
6 2011 Hong Kong, CHN 10km 2:12:31.35
8 2009 Dubai, UAE 10km 1:52:46.56
2 2008 Dubai, UAE 10km 1:56:30.47
69 2007   10km