Simone Gardet
Gardet was the daughter of a swimmer. Her older sister Colette Gardet was also a swimmer, but was not as successful as Simone. She started swimming with Club des Nageurs de Paris. She was signed up by her enthused father after attending a swim meet. In 1937 and 1938 she became champion of Paris in the 200 metre breaststroke. In these two years she won the silver medal at the national championships in the 200 metre breaststroke, behind Françoise Letellier. Later in 1938 she broke two times the national 200 metre breaststroke and twice the national record in the 100 metre breaststroke. In 1939 she broke again two times the national record in both the 100 metre breaststroke and 200 metre breaststroke. Gardet became French swimming champion in the 200m breaststroke in 1939, 1941, 1942 and 1943.