Victor Wenbanyama, a black French basketball power forward, is the son of former athletes Felix Wembanyama and Elodie de Fautereau. His father, a French man of Congolese descent, is a former long jumper who excelled in the sport, competing for his nation in several track and field competitions. His mother, on the other hand, is a former basketball player.
Wembanyama was raised in a family with a deep-rooted love for sports, and he has become one of the next big things in basketball. The young man began his career at a local club, Entente Le Chesney Versailles, and has risen to become one of the best European prospects of his generation. He is also predicted to become the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft. Let’s look at some interesting facts about Victor Wembanyama and his parents.
Felix Wembanyama is a Former Long Jumper of DR Congolese Descent
- Full Name: Felix Wembanyama
- Date of Birth: 1973
- Ethnicity: Mixed
- Nationality: French
- Profession: Former Long Jumper
- Height: 6 feet 6 Inches (1.98 m/ 198 cm)
- Marital Status: Married
- Felix Wembanyama’s Wife: Elodie de Fautereau
- Children: Victor Wembanyama, Eve Wembanyama and Oscar Wembanyama
Felix Wembanyama is a Frenchman born in 1973 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. During his prime, he was a long jumper who participated in long and high jumps events for track and field. He also represented his Congolese in several competitions before he retired from the sport.
As a father, Felix has been very successful in paving a path and being a strong support system for his two children, Victor Wembanyama and Eve Wembanyama. While his two children did inherit his athletic genes, they also got their great physique from their father, a triple jump professional who stands at an impressive 6 feet 6 Inches (1.98 m/198 cm).
According to Victor Wembanyama, his father played a very instrumental role in his basketball career, the rising star stated that his father encouraged him to prioritize track and field before basketball. Although Victor later defected to play basketball, the lessons learned from his father in track and field have served as a major foundation for his successful basketball career.
Elodie de Fautereau is a Former French Basketball Player
- Full Name: Elodie de Fautereau Wembanyama
- Place of Birth: France
- Ethnicity: Caucasian
- Nationality: French
- Profession: Former Basketball Player
- Height: 6 feet 3 Inches (1.91 m/191cm)
- Marital Status: Married
- Elodie de Fautereau’s Husband: Felix Wembanyama
- Children: Eve Wembanyama, Victor Wembanyama and Oscar Wembanyama
Elodie de Fautereau is a French basketball player who played women’s basketball professionally for the Stade Francais during her prime. She was not the only basketball star in her family as her father, Victor Fautereau, who stood at 6 foot 7 inches, played basketball for the French first division in the 1960s. Considering her background in the sport, it is no surprise that Elodie de Fautereau played the sport and would later introduce it to her two children.
Elodie de Fautereau tied the knot with Felix Wembanyama, a Congolese Long Jumper, back in 2009 after several years of dating. The union of 6 feet 2 Inches Elodie and 6 feet 6 inches Felix gave birth to three children, Eve Wembanyama, a basketball player standing at 6 feet tall currently playing as a small forward for the French LDLC team, ASVEL Feminin, and Victor Wembanyama, a young basketball star who stands at an impressive 7 feet 3 Inches and Oscar Wembanyama.
While Elodie has undoubtedly contributed to the height of her children, her genes, support, and encouragement have also played a significant role in her children’s successful careers. She reportedly coached Victor Wembanyama since he was four or five years and from then on, she has continued to encourage her son while still serving as a career advisor on his club choice.
Elodie’s hard work and zeal for basketball paid off in the long run as her first child and only daughter, Eve Wembanyama, was a squad member that helped France win the gold medal at the 2017 FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship. Her second child and first son, Victor Wembanyama, has proved himself as a talented prospect projected to be selected as the NO.1 in the 2023 NBA Draft. Her youngest child has not taken a backseat when it comes to basketball talent. Oscar Wembanyama is also making waves in the basketball scene, and he is likely to become one of the next big things.
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Victor Wembanyama is a Frenchman of Mixed Ethnicity
- Full Name: Victor Wembanyama
- Date of Birth: January 4, 2004
- Place of Birth: Le Chesnay, France
- Ethnicity: Mixed (African-French)
- Nationality: French
- Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
- Profession: Professional Basketball Player
- Height: 7 feet 3 Inches (2.20m/ 220cm)
- Weight: 104 kg (229 lb.)
- Marital Status: Unmarried
- Sibling: Eve Wembanyama and Oscar Wembanyama
- Instagram: wemby
Victor Wembanyama was born in a family of athletes on January 4, 2004, in Le Chesnay, France. He is the second of three children born to his parents, Felix Wembanyama and Elodie de Fautereau. His father was a Congolese long Jumper who eventually obtained French nationality, while his mother, Elodie de Fautereau, is a French woman.
By reason of his birth, Wembanyama holds French nationality and belongs to the mixed race as a result of the combination of his mother’s French blood and his father’s Congolese roots.
Victor Wembanyama Received Basketball Training from his Mother at Age 5
Birthed into a family of sports enthusiasts, Victor Wembanyama followed the legacy laid by his parents and grandparents by taking up sports, especially basketball, thus becoming a third-generation basketball player from his mother’s side of the family. As a child, he dabbled as a goalkeeper in football and also practiced Judo.
By age five, Elodie de Fautereay began coaching him in basketball. Felix Wembanyama was not left behind as he also trained him in track and field schooling imbibing in him some important lessons.
Victor began his basketball career at a local club, Entente Le Chesnay Versailles and by the age of 10, he joined the youth system of LBA Pro A basketball club, Nanterre 92 as his parents refused offers from big teams like FC Barcelona and ASVEL. Victor was later loaned to FC Barcelona for the Maricopa del Rey an Under-14 tournament in Spain, where he led his team to third place in 2018.
The French youngster began playing for Espoirs Nanterre in the LNB Espoirs, the French Under-21 league for the 2019-2020 season. During the season, he played for Nanterre’s under-18 team at the Kaunas Tournament, a qualifier for the Adidas Next Generation Tournament. He was later named to the all-tournament team for his impressive performance. He subsequently made his 2020-2021 Espoirs season debut in an 86-74 victory over Espoirs JL Bourg, after which he was called to an amateur team associated with INSEP, Centre Federal.
He is Projected to be the First Overall Pick in the 2023 NBA Draft
Victor Wembanyama made his professional debut for Nanterre 92 in the EuroCup after various loan spells on October 29, 2019. His debut performance at the EuroCup against Brescia made him the second-youngest player after Stefan Petkovic to play in the EuroCup. The following year, the youngster made his LNB Pro A debut on September 23, 2020, recording one rebound in just four minutes against JL Bourg. He recorded his season-high record of 14 points and 10 rebounds in a 99-87 victory over Orleans Loiret. His cumulative performance throughout the season earned him the Pro A Best Young Player of the year award for the 2020-2021 season.
After the season, he signed a three-year contract with ASVEL of the Pro A and the EuroLeague on June 29, 2021. He made his EuroLeague debut against Zalgiris, and on April 3, 2022, he recorded his career-high 25 points on 13-19 shooting in an 85-65 home victory against Le Portel. Victor finished the 2021-2022 season bagging the LNB Pro A Best Young Player award for a second consecutive season.
Victor committed to a two-year contract with Metropolitans 92 of the Pro A on June 30, 2022, after he ended the season with ASVEL. His popularity soared to new heights after his incredible performance in his first-ever game in America against NBA G League Ignite in exhibition game performances. Dazzling the scouts and American media with his talent show, he has rapidly become a must-see, with many projecting him as the most promising young athlete since LeBron James. Victor Wembanyama is expected to be the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft.
Besides his club career, Victor has also represented France at the 2019 FIBA U16 European Championship and the 2021 FIBA Under 19 Basketball World Cup. He made his senior national debut on November 11, 2022, in a 65-90 away victory in Panevezys against Lithuania after being ruled out due to an injury for the EuroBasket 2022.
Victor Wembanyama has bagged the following awards;
- Pro A champion (2022)
- 2x Pro A Best Young Player (2021, 2022)
- FIBA Under-19 World Cup (silver medal)
- FIBA U16 European Championship (silver medal)
