Alain Calmat - Biography

Alain Calmat (born 31 August 1940, in Paris) is a French former competitive figure skater, surgeon, and politician. He is the 1964 Olympic silver medalist, the 1965 World Champion, the 1962–1964 European Champion, and the 1958 & 1962–1965 French national champion.

Career

Calmat started skating at the age of nine. He won the silver medal at the French Figure Skating Championships in 1954 and would go on to win 12 medals at nationals before retiring: seven silver and five gold. He placed 9th at the 1956 Winter Olympics and won the bronze medal at the European Figure Skating Championships in 1958. At the 1960 Winter Olympics, he moved up to sixth place and won the bronze medal at the World Figure Skating Championships.

The following year, Calmat won the silver medal at the European Figure Skating Championships. He went on to win it three years consecutively between 1962 and 1964. During those years, Calmat placed third once and second twice at Worlds.

At the 1964 Winter Olympics, Calmat won the silver medal and went on to win his second consecutive silver medal at Worlds. He stayed in one more season and retired as the 1965 World Champion.

At the 1968 Winter Olympic Games in Grenoble, France, Calmat was selected to carry the torch and light the Olympic flame.

Competitive highlights

* Championships cancelled due to Sabena Flight 548 crash.

After skating

Calmat later studied medicine, and became a surgeon.

A socialist, he started in a political career. He was minister of Youth Affairs and Sports between 1984 and 1986 when Laurent Fabius was prime minister. He was elected deputy of the département of Cher from 1986 until 1993. In 1995, he became the mayor of Livry-Gargan. In 1997 he became a deputy in the French National Assembly.

He was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.

See also

• List of Olympic medalists in figure skating
• Politics of France
• List of select Jewish figure skaters

• French Nationals Results