Alfred Nakache: The Swimmer Who Defied Auschwitz
alfred Nakache, born on November 18, 1915, in Constantine, Algeria, was more than just a world record holder adn a member of the Swimming Hall of Fame. His story is one of resilience, tragedy, and triumph, a testament to the human spirit’s ability to endure even the darkest of times.Nakache’s life took a harrowing turn when he, along wiht his wife and newborn daughter, was deported to Auschwitz due to their jewish heritage. The Nazis arrived at their home, ordered them to pack a single suitcase, and forced them onto a train. Nakache never saw his wife or daughter again.
Emerging from Auschwitz 30 kilograms lighter and emotionally shattered, Nakache returned to the pool. He broke world records, but he was no longer the same man. Photos from the 1930s reveal a wiry athlete with six-pack abs, a physique few could rival at the time. Though not a technical swimmer, Nakache was efficient and powerful, earning him the nickname “Artem,” or “the fish.”
His journey was marked by a bitter rivalry with Jacques Cartonnet, an Olympian and world record holder in the 100 meters. Cartonnet, envious of Nakache’s success, avoided him publicly but privately seethed. The media of the time praised Cartonnet’s “proportional” physique, while Nakache faced relentless anti-Semitism. In 1936, the two swimmers faced off in a pool, with Nakache emerging victorious, setting a national record.
As anti-Semitism intensified, Nakache was warned to leave Europe. Newspapers mocked his Jewish identity,with one journalist in Sports Mirror describing him as “a faun with pointed ears.” Nakache relocated to Toulouse, but Cartonnet followed, escalating his vendetta. Cartonnet began writing anti-Semitic articles, spying on Nakache, and even collaborating with the Gestapo.
Nakache’s life spiraled further as he was stripped of his French nationality and barred from competitions. Friends urged him to flee to Spain, but he refused. Simultaneously occurring, Cartonnet rose through the ranks of the Gestapo, becoming the head of the Youth and Sports department.
The horrors of Nakache’s experience are vividly recounted in Renaud Leblond’s book,The Auschwitz Swimmer. the book delves into the depths of fascism’s hatred, but also highlights themes of friendship and loyalty.
In 1945,nakache emerged from the hospital,searching in vain for his wife and daughter. A year later, he received the devastating news that his daughter, Annie, had been murdered in the gas chambers of Auschwitz. Despite this unimaginable loss, Nakache returned to the pool, breaking records and qualifying for the 1948 London Olympics.
Nakache eventually remarried and settled in Sète, a picturesque fishing village in the Mediterranean.He rarely spoke of his past, finding solace in daily swims.On August 4, 1983, during one of these swims, Nakache suffered a heart attack and died at the age of 67.
Cartonnet, conversely, met a different fate. Sentenced to death by the Toulouse Justice in 1945, he escaped by jumping from a plane. Though he later coached the italian swimming team Lazio, his legacy remains tarnished, forever linked to Nakache’s suffering and triumph.| Key Moments in Alfred Nakache’s Life |
|—————————————–|
| 1915 | Born in Constantine, Algeria |
| 1936 | Defeats Cartonnet, sets national record |
| 1943 | Deported to Auschwitz |
| 1946 | Breaks world record in Marseille |
| 1948 | Competes in London Olympics |
| 1983 | Dies during a swim in Sète |
Alfred Nakache’s story is one of unimaginable pain and remarkable resilience. His legacy as the “Swimmer of Auschwitz” serves as a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
