Who Is Maryse Éwanjé-Épée? The High Jump Star Behind “Maryse Evan Jeppe”

Many people searching for “Maryse Evan Jeppe” are actually looking for Maryse Éwanjé-Épée. Her surname is often heard on French radio or sports shows, so it is easy for listeners to spell it phonetically.

Maryse Éwanjé-Épée is a former French high jumper, Olympian, and sports journalist. She is best known for her 1.96m French high jump record, her Olympic appearances, and her long media career with outlets such as RMC Sport, Canal+, and Eurosport.

Quick Facts About Maryse Éwanjé-Épée

Quick Facts Details
Full Name Maryse Éwanjé-Épée
Common Search Variant Maryse Evan Jeppe
Birth Date September 4, 1964
Birthplace Poitiers, France
Nationality French
Sport Athletics
Main Event High Jump
Personal Best 1.96m
Olympic Appearances 1984 Los Angeles, 1988 Seoul
Best Olympic Result 4th place in 1984
Later Career Sports journalist and commentator
Known For French high jump record and RMC Sport commentary

Who Is Maryse Éwanjé-Épée?

Maryse Éwanjé-Épée is one of the recognizable figures in French athletics history. She first became known as a high jumper, then later built a second career in sports media.

Her name remains important for two reasons. First, she set a major French high jump record that lasted for decades. Second, she stayed active in public sports discussion after retirement, using her athletic experience to analyze competitions, defend athletes, and speak about equality in sport.

She is not only remembered as a former athlete. She is also known as a strong media voice who helped bring technical knowledge and direct opinions into French sports broadcasting.

Mary
Maryse Éwanjé-Épée is known for her journey from French high jump record-holder to sports media voice.

Image source: Instagram

Athletic Career and Major Achievements

Maryse Éwanjé-Épée competed mainly in the women’s high jump. Before specializing fully, she also had experience in combined events, which helped develop her speed, coordination, and jumping technique.

Her strongest years came during the 1980s, when she became one of France’s leading female high jumpers.

Career Timeline

  • 1983: Won bronze at the European Indoor Championships in Budapest.
  • 1984: Finished 4th at the Los Angeles Olympic Games with a jump of 1.94m.
  • 1985: Set her personal best and French outdoor high jump record at 1.96m.
  • 1988: Competed at the Seoul Olympic Games and finished 10th.
  • 1989: Won another European Indoor bronze medal in The Hague.
  • 1996: Retired from professional athletics and moved toward journalism.
  • 2003: Became a major voice on RMC Sport.
  • 2023: Left her daily RMC Sport role.
  • 2026: Remains connected to athletics, youth work, and public sports discussion.

Key Achievements

Achievement Why It Matters
1.96m French record Her most famous athletic mark
1984 Olympic 4th place Placed her close to the Olympic podium
Two European Indoor bronzes Showed her consistency at the international level
Long elite career Proved her durability across more than a decade
Sports media career Extended her influence beyond the competition

Why Her 1.96m Record Matters

Her 1.96m high jump record is central to her legacy. She achieved the mark in 1985, and it stood as a French national outdoor record for 22 years.

That long record span shows how strong the performance was. In athletics, where training methods and competition standards keep improving, a record lasting more than two decades carries real historical weight.

For the French women’s high jump, the number 1.96m became closely tied to Maryse Éwanjé-Épée’s name.

How Did She Become a Sports Commentator?

sports commentator
After retiring from athletics, Éwanjé-Épée built a second career in French sports media.
Image source: Instagram

After retiring from athletics, Maryse Éwanjé-Épée moved into sports journalism. She studied at the Centre de Formation des Journalistes, which gave her formal media training and helped her build credibility beyond her athlete background.

She later worked with Eurosport and Canal+, then became especially known for her role on RMC Sport. Her appearances on shows such as Super Moscato Show and Les Grandes Gueules du Sport made her a familiar voice to French sports fans.

Her commentary style stood out because it was direct, technical, and experience-based. She could explain sport not only as an observer, but as someone who had competed at the highest level.

Why Did She Leave RMC Sport?

Maryse Éwanjé-Épée left RMC Sport in 2023 after nearly 20 years with the station. Her departure was emotional for many listeners because she had become one of the network’s best-known voices.

Public statements suggest that health and personal reasons played a role in her decision. She stepped away from the demanding daily radio schedule to focus on her well-being, family, and other projects.

Where Is Maryse Éwanjé-Épée Now in 2026?

As of 2026, Maryse Éwanjé-Épée appears to remain connected to athletics and public sports discussion, though she is no longer in the daily RMC Sport spotlight.

recent years
In recent years, Éwanjé-Épée appears to remain connected to athletics, youth mentoring, and public sports discussion.

Image source: Instagram

Her current work seems more focused on:

  • grassroots athletics
  • youth mentoring
  • sports equality discussions
  • writing and consulting
  • community-level sports involvement

This makes her current role quieter than her radio years, but still connected to the sports world.

Common Misconceptions About Maryse Éwanjé-Épée

  • “Maryse Evan Jeppe” is not the accurate spelling: It is a phonetic search version of Maryse Éwanjé-Épée.
  • She was not only a high jumper: She also became a major French sports media voice.
  • She did not win an Olympic medal: Her best Olympic result was 4th place in 1984.
  • She is no longer a daily RMC host: She left her regular RMC Sport role in 2023.
  • Her legacy is not only one record: Her influence includes athletics, media, and sports advocacy.

What Can We Take Away From Maryse Éwanjé-Épée’s Story?

Maryse Éwanjé-Épée’s story is about reinvention. She first made her name through high jump, then built a second career by speaking clearly about sport, athletes, equality, and public responsibility.

To me, her legacy is not only the 1.96m record. It is also the way she continued to use her experience after retirement. Her journey shows that an athlete’s influence does not have to end when competition ends; it can grow into a second career shaped by knowledge, courage, and a strong public voice.


Featured image source: Instagram