Escaped from a German concentration camp: the oldest Olympian from France has passed away.

French rower Roger Lebranchu, who participated in the 1948 Olympic Games, passed away at the age of 103. This was reported by the press service of the French Rowing Federation.

Lebranchu was born in July 1922 and was the oldest Olympian from France.

During World War II, Lebranchu refused to participate in mandatory labor service and joined the Resistance movement in southeastern France. In 1943, he was arrested and deported to the Buchenwald concentration camp.

During the evacuation of the camp in 1945, Lebranchu managed to escape. Just three years later, he took part in the first post-war Summer Olympics in London, finishing fourth in the team events.

In 1947 and 1948, Lebranchu became the French champion and continued rowing until the age of 79.

Before the Paris 2024 Games, Lebranchu carried the Olympic flame as it passed through Mont Saint-Michel.

It is worth noting that on January 10, Russian actress Evgenia Dobrovolskaya passed away — the second wife of Mikhail Efremov.

On January 7, Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of the "National Front," passed away, who ran for the presidency of France five times.