Born on December 5, 1925, in Paris, Henri Oreiller became one of the first French alpine skiing champions after World War II.
Highlights of Henri Oreiller‘s Career:
- Olympic Games: Oreiller competed in the Winter Olympics of 1948 in St. Moritz, Switzerland, and 1952 in Oslo, Norway. In 1952, he won the gold medal in downhill, becoming the first French alpine skier to earn an Olympic medal. This victory marked a turning point in the history of French skiing.
- World Championships: In addition to his Olympic success, Oreiller won the gold medal in downhill at the 1950 Alpine Skiing World Championships in Aspen, USA.
- Critérium de la Première Neige: Henri Oreiller was a regular at the Critérium de la Première Neige in Val d’Isère, where he helped popularize this prestigious French alpine skiing event.
Henri Oreiller’s career paved the way for a new generation of French alpine skiers and established France as a respected nation in the world of alpine skiing. His Olympic gold medal and World Championship successes remain iconic moments in the history of French alpine skiing.
