He was born in Paris in 1932 and rowed for Société d'Encouragement du Sport Nautique based in Nogent-sur-Marne.

[1] At the 1952 Summer Olympics, he was a crew member of the French boat that won the gold medal in the coxed pair event, with Raymond Salles and Bernard Malivoire as his team members.

[2] Four years later, he won the bronze medal with the French boat in the coxless four competition, teamed up with René Guissart, Yves Delacour, and Guy Guillabert.

[1] At the 1961 European Rowing Championships, Mercier won a bronze medal with the eight.

[4] Mercier died of a heart attack on 4 July 1974 while riding his bike in Bussières, Saône-et-Loire.