Michael POETTOZ

Colombia

Alpine Skiing

Date of Birth: 21 Aug 1998

Age: 23

Gender: Male

Place of birth: CALI

Birth Country:

Colombia

Residence: LES CARROZ D'ARACHES

Residence Country:

France

Events and Medals
Records
Schedule
Bio
General Interest
Milestones

Events and Medals

Discipline	Event	Rank	Medal
Alpine Skiing	Men's Giant Slalom	31
	Men's Slalom	DNF

Schedule

Location	Event	Status
Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Centre - Technical	Men's Giant Slalom Run 1	Finished
Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Centre - Technical	Men's Giant Slalom Run 2	Finished
Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Centre - Technical	Men's Slalom Run 1	Finished

Biographical Information

Highlights

Athlete:

Historical Results

Olympic Games
Rank	Event	Year	Location	Result
37	Men's Slalom	2018	PyeongChang, KOR	00:01:57.460
DNF	Men's Giant Slalom	2018	PyeongChang, KOR

Youth Olympic Games
Rank	Event	Year	Location
DNF	Giant Slalom	2016	Lillehammer, NOR
DNF	Slalom	2016	Lillehammer, NOR

World Championship
Rank	Event	Year	Location	Result
44	Slalom Men	2019	Are, SWE	2:28.31
48	Giant Slalom Men	2019	Are, SWE	1:21.99
53	Slalom Men	2017	St. Moritz, SUI	59.49
53	Giant Slalom Men	2017	St. Moritz, SUI	1:21.29

Occupation:

Athlete

Family:

Father, Michel. Mother, Cecile. Step-sister, Carolina. (olympics.com, 3 Feb 2016)

Languages spoken:

French, English

Club name:

Ski Club Araches les Carroz (FRA)

Coach:

Michel Poettoz (FRA) (Info 2018)

Debut:

2015 FIS event in Les Menuires (Slalom - 26th)

Start:

Grew up in the French ski resort of Les Carroz d'Araches. His dad taught him how to ski when he was three years old and, since then, it has become his passion. Began racing in his first youth national competition at the age 10. (olympics.com, 3 Feb 2016; eltiempo.com, 13 Feb 2016)

Reason:

His father saw him watching skiing on the television, and enrolled him in lessons. In June 2015, he joined the Orsatus Ski Racing Club in Meribel (20km from Albertville), a high-performance training center, where many international athletes train. (elpais.com.co, 10 Feb 2016)

Memorable:

Becoming the first (and only) Colombian skier to compete at the Winter Youth Olympic Games (2016) and Olympic Winter Games (2018). (olympics.com, 3 Feb 2016; thebogatapost.com, 9 Feb 2018)

Hero:

Cyclist Nairo Quintana (COL), 2020 Olympian, twice second in the Tour de France (2013, 2015). (eltiempo.com, 13 Feb 2016)

Philosophy:

After the 2021 World Championships in Cortina d'Ampezzo he commented: "We take the positive and will continue to work hard over the next few years." (Instagram, 22 Feb 2021)

Award:

Was Colombian flag bearer at the opening and closing ceremony of the 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer, and the closing ceremony at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. (olympedia.org)

General Interest

BORN IN COLOMBIA, GREW UP IN FRANCE
He was born in Cali, Colombia (name Miguel Angel) and adopted by French parents (Cecile and Michel Poettoz), when he was 21 months old, growing up in the French ski resort of Les Carroz d'Araches. He decided to compete for Colombia in 2015. He does not speak Spanish. "I could represent France but I prefer to do it for Colombia. I am Colombian, I like my country's food, music, and the charm of the people." (olympics.com, 3 Feb 2016; Info 2018)

Milestones

Became the first Colombian-born winter Olympian when he competed in the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games (best finish of 37th in the slalom).

Became the first Colombian to participate in the Youth Olympic Games in 2016 (Lillehammer).

Competed in three World Championships (2017-21) and at the 2019 Junior World Championships.

Social Media

Legend

:: Gold Medal Event
DNF:: Did Not Finish

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