WATCH: When the celebrations go wrong! Thomas Levet jumps into the pool after winning the Open de France and breaks his leg

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Victory at the 2011 Open de France was the highlight of France’s Thomas Levet’s career.

However, there was a cost.

At the time the Parisian was 42 years old, had won the European Tour five times and was runner-up at the 2002 Open at Muirfield.

But his record at his home open at Le Golf National was not very good. In fact, he never made the top 10.

Then a third-round 67 put him in contention and he overcame his rivals with a final-round 70 to take a one-shot victory in front of cheering French fans.

“The wind was good today,” he said soon after. “People were going, ‘Allez, allez, allez’.” I felt like one of the Tour de France riders climbing the mountain.”

Maybe the giddy scenes got to him a bit.

After all the formalities of speaking to the media and raising the trophy were done, Levet and his manager were asked to go straight to the pool and jump in.

The following is taken from this debut film.

The two start off by taking off their shoes, all the while poking around and mugging for photographers.

They waved to the cheering crowds.

Levet simulates jumping head first and thankfully he didn’t.

Then they link arms and jump.

At first it seems fun. They laughed and splashed a little.

The boss gets up but Levet struggles. In fact, he stumbles.

People are laughing and having fun. He stumbles again. The fans laugh and cheer again.

Levet raises it for the cameras but looks hesitant.

Which is a game, he is plowing but he is told that something is wrong and he is limping.

It was later revealed that he had fractured his shin bone, an injury that forced him to miss seven weeks of summer play including the Open and the PGA Championship.

Colin Montgomerie was not impressed.

“I think it’s a stupid thing that players have done over the years,” he said.

There was a part of expressing this but it also made sense.

“I’ve always been suspicious of people who drown in lakes, not knowing how deep they are and what’s inside,” he said.

“There might be something sharp. He was lucky it was only a leg injury. It’s no way to celebrate by taking the next three months off because you hurt yourself.”

Levet was a little self-critical.

A year later, he returned to defend the trophy and said: “I hope to enter again.” It means I won the competition.”

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