Jean-Pierre Vidal (born 24 February 1977 in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, Savoie) is a French alpine skier. As a young skier, he focused mainly on downhill. After hurting his knee, however, he decided to go for slalom. In 2002, he had his best year, winning a gold medal in the 2002 Winter Olympics and taking a World Cup win in Kranjska Gora. A song was called after him (Slalom dans la tête) and in the French ski resort Les Sybelles, a lift was named after his gold medal as well (Médaille d'Or in La Toussuire). After this fantastic year, it took Vidal until 2006 to return to the highest level of skiing competition. In January 2006, he won a World Cup race in Kitzbühel. Barely a month later, on February 24, 2006, he broke his forearm during a training session in Turin. He then decided to stop his professional career. At this time, the 2006 Winter Olympics were not over yet.

Jean-Pierre Vidal
Medal record
Representing  France
Men's alpine skiing
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2002 Salt Lake City Slalom
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2005 Bormio Nations' Team
World Military Ski Championships
Gold medal – first place 2004 Åre Giant Slalom[1]
Universiade
Gold medal – first place 1999 Poprad Tatry Giant Slalom[2]
Bronze medal – third place 1999 Poprad Tatry Slalom[2]
French Championships (FIS)
Gold medal – first place 2001 Courchevel Slalom
Gold medal – first place 2001 Courchevel Giant Slalom
Gold medal – first place 2003 Les Menuires Slalom
Gold medal – first place 2004 Flaine Giant Slalom
Gold medal – first place 2005 Alpe d'Huez Giant Slalom

He is the brother of alpine skier Vanessa Vidal[3] and the nephew of alpine skiers Jean-Noël Augert[4] and Jean-Pierre Augert.[5]

World Cup victories

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Date Location Race
22 December 2001   Kranjska Gora Slalom
22 January 2006   Kitzbühel Slalom

References

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  1. ^ "Results". International Military Sports Council. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b "VIDAL Jean-Pierre - Biographie". Fédération Internationale de Ski. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  3. ^ "Vanessa Vidal hospitalisée" [Vanessa Vidal hospitalised]. L'Équipe (in French). 19 November 2007. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  4. ^ "Vidal seals Kitzbuehel slalom win". bbc.co.uk. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  5. ^ "Augert, Vidal: une station "éleveuse" de champions" [Augert, Vidal: a "breeder" resort for champions]. Le Dauphiné libéré (in French). 22 February 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
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