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Jean Vuarnet

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Athlete

The Resume

    (January 18, 1933-January 2, 2017)
    Born in Le Bardo, Tunisia
    Alpine skier
    Won seven French national titles in downhill, slalom, and giant slalom (1957-59)
    Won an Olympic gold medal in men's downhill (1960)
    Coached the Italian ski team (1968-72)
    Vice-President of the French Ski Federation (1972-74)
    Licensed his name to a brand of sunglasses (1961)

Why he might be annoying:

    While in college, he impregnated a girl visiting from Quebec. Her letter revealing the pregnancy was intercepted by his father, who decided not to share its contents with Jean.
    He was cut at the last minute from the French ski team for the 1956 Olympics.
    While an official of the French Ski Federation, he suspended six skiers for insubordination, triggering a long-running feud with fellow Olympic champion Jean-Claude Killy.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was the first skier to compete using metal skis.
    He was a pioneer of skiing in the more aerodynamic tuck position.
    His wife Edith and son Patrick were members of the Solar Temple cult who died in a mass suicide (1995).
    Among the condolence letters he received after the deaths of Edith and Patrick was one from a woman in Montreal named Christiane, who mentioned that they had known each other when he was in college. A few years later, while visiting his son Pierre who had settled in Montreal, he decided to look up Christiane. Much to his surprise, she revealed that he was the father of her daughter Catherine. After dating for three years, Jean and Christiane were married (1999).

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 10 Votes: 10.0% Annoying