Marlène Harnois
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Marlène Olivia Harnois (born 22 October 1986) is a Canadian-born French taekwondo Olympic medalist, TV personality, philanthropist and a Knight of the Order of Merit, decorated by the
President of France The president of France, officially the president of the French Republic (french: Président de la République française), is the executive head of state of France, and the commander-in-chief of the French Armed Forces. As the presidency i ...
. She is a Champion for Peace representing the Peace and Sport Organisation under the High Patronage of H.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco. She is also a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, the European Taekwondo Union and a board member of the French Olympian Association. In addition she is two times European Champion, World University Champion, a
World Taekwondo Championships The World Taekwondo Championship is held every two years by World Taekwondo. Competitions 1 Wuxi, China, was originally selected to host the 2021 World Taekwondo Championships. Due to the impact of the Global COVID-19 pandemic, Wuxi gave up ...
medalist and has reached the world number one ranking. Highly involved in the development of sport in West
Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
and mentoring young prodigies Cheick Cissé and
Ruth Gbagbi Ruth Marie Christelle Gbagbi (born 7 February 1994 in Abidjan) is an Ivorian taekwondo practitioner. She competed in the 67 kg event at the 2012 Summer Olympics; she was defeated by Hwang Kyung-Seon in the preliminary round and eliminated by H ...
, she contributed to the historical victory of Ivory Coast at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. In 2018, during the celebration of the International Day for Philosophy at the
UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
, she was announced as the Ambassador of the International center for youth philosophy "PhiloJeunes". In 2020, she earned an MBA Degree with honours from the International University of Monaco.


Honours

On 1 March 2013, Harnois received the distinction of Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite, awarded by the President of France, François Hollande, at the Élysée Palace. In 2018, she was decorated by
United Nations peacekeeping Peacekeeping by the United Nations is a role held by the Department of Peace Operations as an "instrument developed by the organization as a way to help countries torn by conflict to create the conditions for lasting peace". It is distinguished ...
forces alongside singer and philanthropist Akon for her contribution in Africa.


Charity work, endorsements and other media

In 2014, she founded in Abidjan, Ivory Coast the Fondation Heart Angel in order to promote education, culture and Sport in West Africa and support the youth in the realisation of their dreams. At the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, Cheick Cissé and
Ruth Gbagbi Ruth Marie Christelle Gbagbi (born 7 February 1994 in Abidjan) is an Ivorian taekwondo practitioner. She competed in the 67 kg event at the 2012 Summer Olympics; she was defeated by Hwang Kyung-Seon in the preliminary round and eliminated by H ...
, athletes supported by the foundation, won historical medals. The gold medalist in taekwondo - 80 kilos, Cissé, became the first Olympic champion in the history of the Ivory Coast, and Gbagbi, bronze medalist in taekwondo -67 kilos, became the first female Olympic medalist. In 2016, Harnois became a Champion for Peace representing the Peace and Sport organisation, under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco. She actively promotes peace through sport and doing field actions all over the world. In parallel to her sport career, she obtained a BA in Journalism and Communications at the Centre de Formation de Journalistes de
Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
, starred in an advertising campaign for Allianz with Ladji Doucouré and Blune with
Mazarine Pingeot Mazarine Marie Pingeot (born 18 December 1974) who changed her name to Mazarine Marie Mitterrand Pingeot in November 2016, is a French writer, journalist and professor. Biography Pingeot is the daughter of former French president François Mi ...
, and worked for various media outlets such as
Eurosport Eurosport is a group of pay television networks in Europe and parts of Asia. Owned by Warner Bros. Discovery through Warner Bros. Discovery Sports#Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe properties, its international sports unit, it operates two ...
, Canal+ Africa and France Televisions, covering the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. She is also involved with various foundations and is an ambassador for "Un Maillot Pour la Vie" and Fondation Heart Angel. She is also the Founder and President of the Caravan for Peace, a humanitarian action supported by athletes such as
Didier Drogba Didier Yves Drogba Tébily (; born 11 March 1978) is an Ivorian retired professional footballer who played as a striker. He is the all-time top scorer and former captain of the Ivory Coast national team. He is best known for his career at ...
, Ladji Doucouré and Daba Modibo Keita. The goal is to unite Champions to promote a message of peace and use sport as a tool for development. In 2017, for the first edition, the Champions visited villages in
Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 ...
and launched water fountains near sports fields

In 2018, during the celebration of the International Day for Philosophy at the UNESCO, she was announced as the Ambassador of the International center for youth philosophy "PhiloJeunes".


Beginnings

Harnois discovered Taekwondo at the age of four with her older sister Stéphanie. Both enrolled in a neighbourhood club located on the south shore of Montreal. She earned her black belt at age nine and quickly stood out at provincial and national levels. In her youth, she also won competitions in other sports including a Quebec Championship in fencing (foil), and in handball (with the high school team of Pierre-Brosseau, where she was enrolled in sports studies program), as well as several snowboard competitions.


Taekwondo

Canadian Team
In 1997, in her first participation, she won the Canadian Junior National Taekwondo Championships. After three years of consecutive years of winning the National Championship, she made her debut on the international scene and won the 1999 US Open. At age 13, Harnois was selected to represent Canada at the 2000 World Junior Championships in Killarney, Ireland, and won the bronze medal. The Canadian martial art prodigy immediately gained international attention within her sport. Journey in France (2001–2002)
As part of the International Francophone Solidarity program, the French Taekwondo Federation (FFTDA) offered Harnois the opportunity to join the French training center for the 2001-2002 sport season. The then 14-year-old athlete decided to move to Europe in order to reach her goals. In France, she trained at the Aix-en-Provence training center (CREPS) with Pascal Gentil (twice Olympic medalist) and Mamedy Doucara (welterweight World Champion 2001). She won the Francophone World Cup in the -67 kg division and received the title of "MVP, Best Fighter". Athletic career on hold (2002–2005)
One year into the International Solidarity Francophone program, established by the FFTDA, Harnois returned to Canada and won the Korea Open in 2003. Back to France (2006)
Harnois accepted a proposition made by the French Taekwondo Federation and moved back to France to train at the National Olympic Center. She joined the group led by Myriam Baverel at the Aix-en-Provence training center (CREPS) and won all the International Open Championships: the Mexico World Open, Dutch Open, Israel Open, Spanish Open, Andorra Cup, and Bilbao Open. At the same time, she pursued her scholarship and earned a certificate in physical education and a master's degree (bac+4) in sport management. In 2008, just days after receiving her French naturalization, Harnois won the European Championships in the -63 kg category. Olympic preparation (2008–2012)
In 2008, Harnois joined the National Institute of Sport, Expertise and Performance (INSEP) in Paris to prepare for the London Olympics. Two times European Champion, World university Champion and medalist, she dominated the international scene and won the US Open, Russia Open, Israel Open, Paris International Tournament, and Deutsch Open, and medalled at the World Taekwondo Championships. She also won an Olympic quota for France at the World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Kazan, Russia. 2012 Summer Olympics
Harnois won a bronze medal at the 2012 London Summer Olympics. She beat Yeny Contreras in the first round, followed by Hedaya Wahba in the quarter-finals. She then lost to Hou Yuzhuo in the semi-finals. This enabled her to take part in the bronze medal repechage, where she beat Mayu Hamada.


Results

2012 *
2012 Summer Olympics The 2012 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012) was an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, the ...
in
London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
, UK *
2012 European Taekwondo Championships The 2012 European Taekwondo Championships were held in Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the nor ...
in
Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...
, England * US Open in Las Vegas, USA * World Team Championship in Santa Cruz, Aruba 2011 *
2011 Summer Universiade The 2011 Summer Universiade ( zh, c=2011年夏季世界大学生运动会, p=Èr líng yī yī Nián xiàjì shìjiè dàxuéshēng yùndònghuì), the XXVI Summer Universiade ( zh, c=第二十六届夏季世界大学生运动会, p=Dì Èrshíl ...
in
Shenzhen Shenzhen (; ; ; ), also historically known as Sham Chun, is a major sub-provincial city and one of the special economic zones of China. The city is located on the east bank of the Pearl River estuary on the central coast of southern province ...
, China *
2011 World Taekwondo Championships The 2011 World Taekwondo Championships was the 20th edition of the World Taekwondo Championships, and was held at Gyeongju Indoor Stadium in Gyeongju, South Korea from May 1 to May 6, 2011. Medal summary Men Women Medal table Team ranki ...
in
Gyeongju Gyeongju ( ko, 경주, ), historically known as ''Seorabeol'' ( ko, 서라벌, ), is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang Province in South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, ...
, South Korea * French National Championships * Russia Open * Israel Open * Tournoi International de Paris 2010 * Tournoi International de Paris * French National Championships *
2010 European Taekwondo Championships The 2010 European Taekwondo Championships was held at the Yubileyny Sports Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Eu ...
in
Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...
, Russia * European Team Cup 2009 *
2011 Summer Universiade The 2011 Summer Universiade ( zh, c=2011年夏季世界大学生运动会, p=Èr líng yī yī Nián xiàjì shìjiè dàxuéshēng yùndònghuì), the XXVI Summer Universiade ( zh, c=第二十六届夏季世界大学生运动会, p=Dì Èrshíl ...
in
Belgrade Belgrade ( , ;, ; Names of European cities in different languages: B, names in other languages) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city in Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers a ...
, Serbia 2008 *
2008 European Taekwondo Championships The 2008 European Taekwondo Championships were held in Rome, Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and ...
in Rome * Deutsch Open 2007 * World Open Mexico * Spanish Open * Jerusalem Open 2006 * Copa d’Andorra * Jerusalem Open * Bilbao Open Also * Junior Taekwondo Championships, Killarney - Ireland (2000) * Korea Open (2003) * Francophone World Cup (2002) * US Open (1999) * Canadian National Championships (1997 to 2002)


References


External links

* * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Harnois, Marlene 1986 births Living people French female taekwondo practitioners French people of Canadian descent People from Saint-Lambert, Quebec Sportspeople from Montreal Taekwondo practitioners at the 2012 Summer Olympics Olympic taekwondo practitioners of France Olympic bronze medalists for France Olympic medalists in taekwondo Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics Knights of the Ordre national du Mérite Universiade medalists in taekwondo Universiade gold medalists for France Universiade bronze medalists for France World Taekwondo Championships medalists European Taekwondo Championships medalists Medalists at the 2009 Summer Universiade Medalists at the 2011 Summer Universiade