[1] Rousseau's parents, still in Indochina, knew nothing about her hobby until they read an article about her training in Paris Match magazine.
[4] Rousseau was trained by former world champion parachutist Pierre Lard [fr] and made more than 200 jumps from aircraft between 1950 and 1955.
[1] Throughout this time she had to wear a parachute rig intended for men and weighing 20 kilograms (44 lb), no female version being available.
[1] The popular press depicted her as a rival of fellow French parachutist Colette Duval [fr], though this may not have reflected the actual relationship between the two women.
[1][2] Rousseau set the record from a French military Nord Noratlas that flew from Brétigny-sur-Orge Air Base and jumped over Saint-Yan.
[5] Due to the altitude Rousseau wore an air mask and "was equipped with three flight suits: one in silk, one in linen, and one with fleece lining; three pairs of gloves: two in silk and one in fur-lined leather; one helmet in leather; large antifreeze goggles; an inhalation mask; a portable bottle of oxygen; a little plank board placed on the front parachute bearing two altimeters, the chronometer and the heavy and cumbersome registered barograph of the International Aeronautic Federation (FAI)".
[1] Afterward Rousseau was active in the FAI, attending its general conferences as a companion of honour, observer and/or delegate.