Luc Collard

Luc Collard (born July 21, 1966) is a French professor and author. He is an originator and advocate for the 5th stroke and a Full Professor at the University of Paris City in sports sciences.

Luc Collard (2022)

Early life and education

In 1991, Collard completed his external aggregation of EPS in swimming. He received DEA in Social Sciences: cultures and social behaviors from René Descartes University in 1993. Collard completed his Doctorate in Sociology from René Descartes University, Paris V, Sorbonne, in 1997. Using experimental game theory, Collard’s thesis, published in Sports, stakes, accidents (PUF), shows the educational value of high-risk sports. With the theory of games, he approaches the study of swimming tactics, making a plea for the emergence of a fifth stroke.[2 On December 3, he received the Thesis Prize for Social Sciences Training. He is the former student of Professor Pierre Parlebas, a French sociologist and inventor of motor praxeology.

Career

In 1988, Collard began his career teaching Physical and Sports Education at CAPES. During this time, he became interested in the point of view of motor action and motor praxeology developed by Pierre Parlebas. From 1989 to 1994, he remained an Associate professor of PE at the Lycée La Hotoie in Amiens. In 1995, he was appointed to job PRAG676 at UFR STAPS in Amiens.

At the turn during 5th stroke race (photo: Luc Collard)

In 1998, Collard became a Lecturer in charge of the Department of Sport Science Research at UFR STAPS in Amiens, University of Picardie Jules Verne. A year later, he was promoted to Vice-Dean, serving until 2001. He joined René Descartes University, Paris V, Sorbonne as the Defense of a Habilitation to Supervise Research.

In 2007, Collard became a University Professor at the University of CAEN (UFR STAPS), obtaining the PEDR.

In 2010, he became the Deputy Director of the EA 4260 laboratory: Interaction Organization and Action. The following year, he was transferred to University Professor 2nd CL 6th level at Paris-Descartes, obtaining the PES. In 2012, Collard became the Director of the TEC team Techniques and Issues of the Body of the GEPECS EA 3625 and then EA 3625 TEC until September 2015. He also remained the Director of the STAPS UFR of Paris Descartes, Pr 1ère CL, from 2014 to 2018.

During 5th stroke competition in Paris 2019: anguilliform style (on the back) versus caranguiform style (in the foreground) (photo: Luc Collard)

Advocacy

In 2013, Collard, along with Emmanuel Gourmelin, and Valérie Schwob of the Laboratoire Techniques et Enjeux du Corps at the Université Paris Descartes conducted a study on dolphin kicking.

In 2019, he originated the first 5th swimming stroke competition in Paris, organized under the aegis of the FFSU (French Federation of University Sports) in Ile de France. His work on La 5e Nage has been translated into 8 languages. With volunteer sports students, Collard continues experimenting on 5th stroke at the Paris university and is working toward getting swimming in Undulation Under the Surface (Undulation Underwater Swimming) recognized by FINA and integrating 5th stroke competitions into programs.

On June 20, 2019, he organized a television report on the 5th swim on BFM TV, and on September 23, 2020, he was interviewed on France Info.

Publications

• Luc Collard, Sports, enjeux et accidents. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, (EAN 978-2130489955), (ISBN 2-13-048995-8), 1998, 224 p. (publication de sa thèse soutenue à la Sorbonne, Paris, 1997)
• Luc Collard, Sport & agressivité. Gap: DésIris, (ISBN 2-907653-95-4), 2004, 237 p. (publication de son HDR (Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches) soutenue à la Sorbonne, Paris, 2001)
• Luc Collard, La cinquième nage. Natation & Théorie de l’évolution. Paris-Biarritz: Atlantica, (ISBN 978-2-7588-0243-3), 2009, 144 p.
• Luc Collard, The Fifth Stroke (La 5e Nage). Explorez une nouvelle dimension! Paris: Amphora, (EAN 9782757603222), 2018, 206 p.
• Luc Collard, Nager en apnée. Gap: Adverbum-DésIris, (ISBN 978-2-36403-190-6), 2020, 128 p.
• Luc Collard, Le singe aquatique. St Ouen: Les Éditions du Net, (ISBN 978-2-312-08076-5), 2021, 212 p.
• Luc Collard, Das fünfte Schwimmen. Der fünfte Hub, Verlag Unser Wissen Eds, (ISBN 978-620-3-71452-4), 2021, 116 p.
• Luc Collard, The Fifth Swim. The fifth stroke, Our Knowledge Publishing, (ISBN 978-6203714531), 2021, 108 p.
• Luc Collard, O quinto mergulho. O quinto golpe, Edições Nosso Conhecimento, (ISBN 978-620-3-71458-6), 2021, 112 p.
• Luc Collard, Piąte pływanie. Piąte uderzenie, Wydawnictwo Nasza Wiedza, (ISBN 978-6203714579), 2021, 108 p.
• Luc Collard, De vijfde zwem. De vijfde slag, Uitgeverij Onze Kennis, (ISBN 978-6203714562), 2021, 112 p.
• Luc Collard, La quinta nuotata. Il quinto colpo, Edizioni Sapienza, 2021, (ISBN 978-620-3-71455-5), 2021, 108 p.
• Luc Collard, El quinto baño. El quinto golpe, Ediciones Nuestro Conocimiento, (ISBN 978-620-3-71454-8), 2021, 112 p.
• Luc Collard, The Aquatic Ape, USA: kdp published, (ISBN 979-8754486324), 2022, 215 p.