Count Renaud de la Frégeolière
Encyclopedia
Count Renaud de la Frégeolière (April 29, 1886 - April 16, 1981) was a French
author
who became the first president of the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing
(FIBT - International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation), serving from 1923 to 1960.
Frégeolière made his first bobsleigh
descent at Leysin
, Switzerland
in 1907 which led him to an early career in the sport. Six years later, he co-authored a book with Jules Magnus, founder of the International Ice Hockey Federation
(IIHF), on the Winter Games. Frégeolière developed rules and brought together various bobsleigh clubs in Europe
which led to the formation of the FIBT in 1923. He had hoped to compete at the bobsleigh event
at the track
helped construct for the 1924 Winter Olympics
in Chamonix
, but a training injury prevented this.
Frégeolière judged fifty FIBT World Championships
, including ten bobsleigh Winter Olympics
between 1924 to his 1960 retirement. He also presided over 29 FIBT Congresses.
After his 1960 retirement, Frégeolière was named FIBT Honorary President which he held until his 1981 death.
He wrote Les sports d'hiver with Louis Magnus
in 1911.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
author
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
who became the first president of the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing
Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing
The Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing or International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation is the main international federation for all bobsleigh and skeleton sports...
(FIBT - International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation), serving from 1923 to 1960.
Frégeolière made his first bobsleigh
Bobsleigh
Bobsleigh or bobsled is a winter sport in which teams of two or four make timed runs down narrow, twisting, banked, iced tracks in a gravity-powered sled that are combined to calculate the final score....
descent at Leysin
Leysin
Leysin is a municipality of the canton of Vaud in Switzerland, located in the district of Aigle.-History:Leysin is first mentioned around 1231-32 as Leissins. In 1352 it was mentioned as Leisins.-Geography:...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in 1907 which led him to an early career in the sport. Six years later, he co-authored a book with Jules Magnus, founder of the International Ice Hockey Federation
International Ice Hockey Federation
The International Ice Hockey Federation is the worldwide governing body for ice hockey and in-line hockey. It is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and has 70 members...
(IIHF), on the Winter Games. Frégeolière developed rules and brought together various bobsleigh clubs in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
which led to the formation of the FIBT in 1923. He had hoped to compete at the bobsleigh event
Bobsleigh at the 1924 Winter Olympics
At the 1924 Winter Olympics, only one bobsleigh event was contested, the four man event. However, rules at the time also allowed a fifth sledder to compete...
at the track
La Piste de Bobsleigh des Pellerins
La Piste de Bobsleigh des Pellerins was a bobsleigh track constructed for the 1924 Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France.-Track statistics:...
helped construct for the 1924 Winter Olympics
1924 Winter Olympics
The 1924 Winter Olympics, officially known as the I Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was held in 1924 in Chamonix, France...
in Chamonix
Chamonix
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc or, more commonly, Chamonix is a commune in the Haute-Savoie département in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It was the site of the 1924 Winter Olympics, the first Winter Olympics...
, but a training injury prevented this.
Frégeolière judged fifty FIBT World Championships
FIBT World Championships
The FIBT World Championships, part of the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing , have taken place on an annual basis in non-Winter Olympic years since 1930. A two-man event was included in 1931 with a combined championship occurring in 1947...
, including ten bobsleigh Winter Olympics
Bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics
Bobsleigh has been contested at the Winter Olympic Games since the first Winter Games in 1924, with the exception of the 1960 games in Squaw Valley when the organizing committee decided not to build a track in order to reduce expenses. Other than that exception, the four-man competition has been...
between 1924 to his 1960 retirement. He also presided over 29 FIBT Congresses.
After his 1960 retirement, Frégeolière was named FIBT Honorary President which he held until his 1981 death.
He wrote Les sports d'hiver with Louis Magnus
Louis Magnus
Louis Magnus was an ice skater. He competed as a figure skater representing France. He is considered as the builder of the International Ice Hockey Federation .He moved to France in 1889....
in 1911.