FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES:2000: bronze (duet), 4 th (team); 1996: 5 th (team); 2004: 5 th (duet); WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2003 gold: (solo); 2005: gold (solo); 2007: gold (solo); 1998: silver (solo) bronze (duet); 2001: silver (solo); 2015: 4 th (mixed duet); European Championships: 2004 gold (solo), bronze (duet); 2002: gold (solo), bronze (duet); 2000: gold (duet), silver (solo), team (bronze); 1999: silver (solo), silver (duet), team (silver); 1997: silver (solo), silver (duet), team (silver); 40 time French Champion;
She is the most successful artistic swimmer from France and one of the most impressive to ever come from Europe. She discovered synchronized swimming in her hometown of Aix-en-Provence at the age of six and quickly became a standout in the sport. Virginie Dedieu was not only a promising athlete, but a hard-working student as well.
There are a multitude of skills required to be an outstanding artistic swimmer, and Virginie combined them all in one petite body. She was known for her explosive strength, as well as her sustained strength, both upright and upside down. This exceptional athlete used her skills as tools to produce some of the most creative solo performances in synchronized swimming history. She had the ability and the desire to envision and create performances that would endure in memories for years to come.
She is a three-time Olympian, and three-time World Champion. Her combination of stunning artistry and technical excellence earned her three consecutive FINA World Championship solo titles in 2003, 2005 and 2007. In 2005, while watching her free solo performance, the television commentator called Virginie the “perfect swimmer.”
Virginie is the only solo champion who does not come from one of the powerhouse countries in artistic swimming. Until Virginie, all solo champions have had entire teams behind them scoring medals in other events at the same championships.
In most instances, national programs will produce many exceptional soloists, but in this instance one incredible athlete, namely Dedieu, seemed to influence entire programs. Just as artists do in other media, Virginie’s unique style helped to propel other soloists to greater heights of creativity, such as Gemma Manguel, and Ona Carbonell, both talented soloists of Spain. Since 2009, Virginie has acted in the role of international coach and choreographer for numerous countries, including, the USA, England, Italy, Israel, Switzerland, France, Canada and of course, Spain.
Dedieu was awarded the Legion of Honor in January, 2006, which is her country’s highest honor, dating back to Napoleon, and one of the most famous decorations in the world. It was established to recognize citizens who have made exceptional contributions to France.
Virginie has served as a member of the FINA/World Aquatics athletes committee, has a seat within the international Olympic Committee and was heavily involved in the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee, which she began working on years prior, when Paris first began bidding on the Games.
In addition to coaching and choreography, Dedieu has worked as a television consultant for the Olympic Games, she has a degree in Interior Design and is married with two children.