Jean Frederic CHAPUIS

Historical Results

JF, Jean-Fred

Hiking and spending as much time as possible outdoors in his home valleys. (Snowbeat TV Show, Dec 2019)

Athlete

Grenoble Ecole de Management

Parents, Denis (French) and Cathy (Swiss). Sister, Anne.

French, Swiss German, English

Douanes - C.O. Val Thorens

National: Eric Archer (CAN), Thomas Frey (FRA), Arnaud Bovolenta (FRA)

Alpine skiing: 2010 National Championships in Val Thorens (Slalom - second)

2010 World Cup in San Candido (Ski cross - 8th)

February 2021: Back injury due to a vertebral hernia that forced him to miss the first of the three World Cup races in Idre Fjall. After he recovered, he was able to race in the other two events.

January 2020: Appendicitis surgery and missed the remainder of the season.

2010

Spent much of his childhood on the slopes of the Val Thorens resort in the Trois Vallees ski region of the French Alps (elevation 2300m). Began skiing at age two and took part in the sport throughout primary school in Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Unable to make the French alpine ski team initially, a dual national, he went to represent Switzerland, the country of his mother's birth. But again he failed to make the step up to international level. “I spent a great year there, which gave me the desire to ski again and improved my physical strength. I was able to rebuild my confidence. It was in Switzerland that I learned that hard work gets results.”

Despite being crowned junior slalom champion, he had not built up enough FIS points to gain promotion to the senior circuit, and promptly returned to Val Thorens.

In 2010, following an invitation from the French Skiing Federation, at age 20, he tried ski cross, immediately making an impression with his quick and instinctive style, as well as his huge potential. (olympics.com)

"I'm very explosive so I realized I was very good at this sport and I just love the adrenaline from racing against the others, being able to put down a strategy, keep my line or make passes. The fun part for me for ski cross is the racing, you play with three other guys in the track. You have to beat them so take a better start. If you start behind, you have to find a way where you can overtake them."

"You have to adapt yourself on every situation. You can do 10 times a ski cross run with three other same guys, it will always be different, because nobody took the same line and it changes if you are in front or behind - the position changes." (Snowbeat TV Show, Dec 2019)

Becoming Olympic champion at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Having comfortably negotiated the early rounds, he found himself in the Big Final alongside compatriots Arnaud Bovolenta (now coach of the French Team), Jonathan Midol, and Canada’s Brady Leman. The reigning world champion from 2013, wearing the green bib, took an early lead, a position he would only give up briefly to Bovolenta mid-race on his way to victory. With Leman falling towards the end, France swept the podium in a historic 1-2-3 finish, Bovolenta and Midol taking silver and bronze respectively.

“At the final jump, I knew I was ahead, and I just tried to enjoy the feeling. I turned around and saw the other French skiers. I couldn’t believe it – even in my dreams, things hadn’t turned out as well as that. In 10 to 15 years, when we get together for a meal, we’ll look at each other and say, ‘Do you still remember that day?" (olympics.com)

Swiss tennis player Roger Federer. (Athlete, May 2021)

His parents. (Athlete, May 2021)

"I believe in destiny." (Athlete, May 2021)

Was able to come back to the top of the sport, at age 31, having had time off post appendicitis surgery. "It's true that when you're used to being first, the rest is obviously a little worse. But for me, it was not underperformance. I always have the feeling that I can win, that's why I keep going." (lequipe.fr Dec 2020)

Three-time Crystal Globe winner (2015, 2016, 2017).