Thirty-three years ago, on February 13, 1992, Edgar Grospiron experienced “the greatest moment” of his sporting career when he became the first-ever Olympic champion in ski bumps at the Albertville Winter Games. Now, the legendary skier has been chosen to chair the organizing committee for the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps.

On February 13, 1992, in Tignes, with snow falling in large flakes, Edgar Grospiron was preparing to face the competition. At the end of the bumpy course, the French skier had the chance to become the first Olympic champion in his discipline.

The racer from Haute-Savoie, who arrived as favorite after having been double world champion, wore the bib number 16 on his shoulders. Wearing a colorful ski suit that today would be considered vintage, he descended the slope, overcame the bumps, executed his two jumps and crossed the finish line to a standing ovation from more than 12,000 spectators. At the age of 22, he became an Olympic champion and celebrated by waving a blue, white and red flag over the snow.

HISTORIC PODIUM

That day, the French public discovered a discipline that until then had only been a demonstration sport at Calgary 1988 and, at the same time, a charismatic champion.

“As soon as I walked out the door, I felt unbeatable,” Grospiron told L’Équipe. “I had 30 seconds to prove I was the best.” More precisely, 31 seconds and 23 hundredths, the best time of the final, which allowed him to win the gold with less than one point ahead of his compatriot Olivier Allamand, impeccable in his skiing technique.

France came close to a hat-trick on the podium, but Éric Berthon, a 31-year-old veteran, came in fourth. American Nelson Carmichael, who scored best in the jumps, took bronze by just three hundredths of a point.

A UNIQUE PERSONALITY

Beyond the result, Grospiron’s personality marked that golden day for French Olympism. “I won’t leave them anything, not even the gaiters!” he promised the day before after winning the qualification. After the race, he reinforced his party boy image with an answer that went down in history. When a journalist asked him what his secret was, he replied mischievously, “One week white wine, another week red wine.”

The young man showed audacity both in the bumps and in his interviews. On the morning of February 13, 1992, he even challenged Jean-Claude Killy, co-chairman of the organizing committee, who was contemplating postponing the race due to weather conditions. “No, it’s a great day to be Olympic champion!” replied Grospiron, before writing his name in the history of ski bumps.

Now, he will continue to write the history of French Olympic sport on snow, albeit from a different position, and in a less colorful outfit.