Alain Calmat
Encyclopedia
Alain Calmat 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
.
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.
* Championships cancelled due to Sabena Flight 548
crash.
, 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.
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
former competitive figure skater, surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
, and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He is the 1964 Olympic silver medalist
1964 Winter Olympics
The 1964 Winter Olympics, officially known as the IX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Innsbruck, Austria, from January 29 to February 9, 1964...
, the 1965 World Champion
World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion...
, the 1962–1964 European Champion
European Figure Skating Championships
The European Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition in which figure skaters compete for the title of European Champion...
, and the 1958 & 1962–1965 French national champion
French Figure Skating Championships
The French Figure Skating Championships are a figure skating national championship held annually to determine the national champions of France. Skaters compete in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice dancing. Skaters compete at the senior level...
.
Career
Calmat started skating at the age of nine. He won the silver medal at the French Figure Skating ChampionshipsFrench Figure Skating Championships
The French Figure Skating Championships are a figure skating national championship held annually to determine the national champions of France. Skaters compete in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice dancing. Skaters compete at the senior level...
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
1956 Winter Olympics
The 1956 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. This celebration of the Games was held from 26 January to 5 February 1956. Cortina, which had originally been awarded the 1944 Winter Olympics, beat out...
and won the bronze medal at the European Figure Skating Championships
European Figure Skating Championships
The European Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition in which figure skaters compete for the title of European Champion...
in 1958. At the 1960 Winter Olympics
1960 Winter Olympics
The 1960 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VIII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event held between February 18 and 28, 1960 in Squaw Valley, California, United States. In 1955 at the 50th IOC meeting, the organizing committee made the surprise choice to award Squaw Valley as...
, he moved up to sixth place and won the bronze medal at the World Figure Skating Championships
World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion...
.
The following year, Calmat won the silver medal at the European Figure Skating Championships
European Figure Skating Championships
The European Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition in which figure skaters compete for the title of European Champion...
. 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
1964 Winter Olympics
The 1964 Winter Olympics, officially known as the IX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Innsbruck, Austria, from January 29 to February 9, 1964...
, 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
| Event | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympic Games Figure skating at the Olympic Games Figure skating has been contested in the Olympic Games since the 1908 Summer Olympics. In 1908 and 1920, the figure skating competitions were held in conjunction with the Games of the Olympiad... |
9th | 6th | 2nd | |||||||||
| World Championships World Figure Skating Championships The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion... |
11th | 9th | 7th | 9th | 5th | 7th | 3rd | * | 3rd | 2nd | 2nd | 1st |
| European Championships European Figure Skating Championships The European Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition in which figure skaters compete for the title of European Champion... |
5th | 5th | 4th | 4th | 3rd | 4th | 4th | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 2nd |
| French Championships French Figure Skating Championships The French Figure Skating Championships are a figure skating national championship held annually to determine the national champions of France. Skaters compete in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice dancing. Skaters compete at the senior level... |
2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st |
Sabena Flight 548
Sabena Flight 548, registration OO-SJB, was a Boeing 707 aircraft that crashed en route to Brussels, Belgium, from New York City on February 15, 1961, killing the entire United States Figure Skating team on its way to the 1961 World Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia.The flight, which...
crash.
After skating
Calmat later studied medicineMedicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, and became a surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
.
A socialist
Socialist Party (France)
The Socialist Party is a social-democratic political party in France and the largest party of the French centre-left. It is one of the two major contemporary political parties in France, along with the center-right Union for a Popular Movement...
, he started in a political career. He was minister of Youth Affairs and Sports
Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports (France)
The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports is, in the Government of France, the cabinet member in charge of national and public sport associations, youth affairs, public sports centers and national stadia...
between 1984 and 1986 when Laurent Fabius
Laurent Fabius
Laurent Fabius is a French Socialist politician. He served as Prime Minister from 17 July 1984 to 20 March 1986. He was 37 years old when he was appointed and is, so far, the youngest Prime Minister of the Fifth Republic.-Early life:...
was prime minister. He was elected deputy of the département of Cher
Cher (département)
Cher is an administrative department located in the centre of France. It is named after the Cher River.-History:Cher is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. Most of it was created, along with the adjacent department of Indre from the former...
from 1986 until 1993. In 1995, he became the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Livry-Gargan
Livry-Gargan
Livry-Gargan is a commune in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.-Twin towns:Livry-Gargan is twinned with the communities of:* Almuñécar, Spain* Cerveteri, Italy* Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany...
. In 1997 he became a deputy in the French National Assembly
French National Assembly
The French National Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of France under the Fifth Republic. The upper house is the Senate ....
.
He was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.
See also
- List of Olympic medalists in figure skating
- Politics of FrancePolitics of FranceFrance is a semi-presidential representative democratic republic, in which the President of France is head of state and the Prime Minister of France is the head of government, and there is a pluriform, multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is...
- List of select Jewish figure skaters