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{{Short description|French figure skater, coach and official}}
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[[File:2012 WFSC 03d 937 (cropped) - Didier Gailhaguet.JPG|thumb|Didier Gailhaguet at the [[2012 World Figure Skating Championships|2012 World Championships]]]]
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
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'''Didier Gailhaguet''' (born 22 August 1953 in [[Béziers]], [[France]]) is a French french [[Figure skating|figure skater]], coach and official. He served as the president of the [[French Federation of Ice Sports|Fédération française des sports de glace]] (FFSG) from 1998 to 2004 and again from 2007 to 2020; both of his tenures ended as the result of scandals. At the peak of his power he was one of figure skating's most influential and controversial officials, dubbed the "little [[Napoleon]]."<ref name=YN200208/>
{{Infobox athlete
|image=File:2012 WFSC 03d 937 (cropped) - Didier Gailhaguet.JPG
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|caption=Didier Gailhaguet at the [[2012 World Figure Skating Championships|2012 World Championships]]
|birth_place=[[Béziers]], [[France]]
|birth_date={{bda|1953|08|22|df=y}}
|country= {{FRA}}
|sport=[[figure skating]]
}}
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'''Didier Gailhaguet''' (born 22 August 1953) is a French former [[Figure skating|figure skater]], coach and official. He served as the president of the [[French Federation of Ice Sports|Fédération française des sports de glace]] (FFSG) from 1998 to 2004 and again from 2007 to 2020. He was suspended each time because of related scandals. At the peak of his power, he was one of figure skating's most influential and controversial officials, dubbed the "little [[Napoleon]]."<ref name=YN200208/>

⚫
==Skating and coaching==
⚫
As a skater, Gailhaguet competed at the senior level for five seasons, performing at the [[World Figure Skating Championships|World Championships]] in all five. He won the French national title twice, and represented France at the [[Figure skating at the 1972 Winter Olympics|1972 Winter Olympics]] in [[Sapporo]], where he placed thirteenth.

After retiring from competition, Gailhaguet became a coach. His most famous student was [[Surya Bonaly]], whom he began coaching in 1984. He aggressively promoted Bonaly to the public, including creating a backstory that she had been born on [[Réunion]] and found abandoned on a beach, when in reality Bonaly was born in France and adopted at the age of eight months.<ref name=binge.audio/><ref name=SI950306/>

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Under his guidance, Bonaly became the ladies' [[1991 World Junior Figure Skating Championships|World Junior Champion in 1991]]. On the senior level, she won the French national title four times consecutively, as well as two [[European Figure Skating Championships|European]] titles. Bonaly left Gailhaguet's school at the conclusion of the 1991–1992 season, following the [[Figure skating at the 1992 Winter Olympics|1992 Winter Olympics]] in [[Albertville]].<ref name=Hum920331/><ref name=NYT921217/>


⚫
==Federation president and scandals==
==Career==
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First taking the reins of the FFSG in 1998, Gailhaguet was a central figure in the [[2002 Olympic Winter Games figure skating scandal]], in which French judge [[Marie-Reine Le Gougne]] said that she had judged wrongly in the pairs competition under pressure from Gailhaguet as part of an arrangement between the FFSG and the [[Figure Skating Federation of Russia|Russian skating federation]] related to the future ice dance competition. Witnesses of Le Gougne's statement were [[Sally-Anne Stapleford]] (Great Britain), [[Britta Lindgren]] (Sweden), [[Walburga Grimm]] (Germany), and [[Jon Jackson (figure skater)|Jon Jackson]] (USA). Gailhaguet's chauffeur in Salt Lake City also testified to having overheard evidence of his involvement in the scandal. Le Gougne later rescinded this statement, saying that she had been pressured to make it.<ref name=NYT020501/>
⚫
===Skating and coaching===
⚫
As a skater, Gailhaguet competed at the senior level for five seasons, appearing at the [[World Figure Skating Championships|World Championships]] in all five. He won the French national title twice, and represented France at the [[Figure skating at the 1972 Winter Olympics|1972 Winter Olympics]] in [[Sapporo]], where he placed thirteenth.


⚫
Gailhaguet was excluded from any [[International Skating Union]] event for three years, beginning 30 April 2002. He has been excluded as an ISU council member.<ref name=NYT020501/> He resigned as president of the FFSG on 12 May 2004 but was re-elected to that position after his suspension ended, in December 2007.
⚫
As a coach, Gailhaguet's most famous student was [[Surya Bonaly]], who he began coaching in 1984. He aggressively promoted Bonaly to the public, including manufacturing a backstory that she had been born on [[Réunion]] and found abandoned on a beach; in fact, she had been born in France.<ref name=binge.audio/><ref name=SI950306/> Under his guidance, Bonaly became the ladies' [[1991 World Junior Figure Skating Championships|World Junior Champion in 1991]], and on the senior level won the French national title four times consecutively, as well as two [[European Figure Skating Championships|European]] titles. Bonaly left Gailhaguet's school at the conclusion of the 1991–1992 season, following the [[Figure skating at the 1992 Winter Olympics|1992 Winter Olympics]] in [[Albertville]].<ref name=Hum920331/><ref name=NYT921217/>


In February 2020, retired pair skater [[Sarah Abitbol]] accused Gailhaguet of having covered up her abuse allegations against one of his allies, longtime coach and FFSG official [[Gilles Beyer]].<ref name=Equipe200129/><ref name=Equipe200128/> Although the statute of limitations precluded prosecution of Abitbol's allegations, several other former students of Beyer made similar claims. Concurrently, Gailhaguet was attempting to defend pair skater [[Morgan Ciprès]], who was accused of having [[Sexting|sent a picture of his penis]] to a 13-year-old girl at his training center in Florida.<ref name=USAT-121019/>
⚫
===Federation president and scandals===
⚫
First taking the reins of the FFSG in 1998, Gailhaguet was a central figure in the [[2002 Olympic Winter Games figure skating scandal]], in which French judge [[Marie-Reine Le Gougne]] said that she had judged wrongly in the pairs competition under pressure from Gailhaguet as part of an arrangement between the FFSG and [[Figure Skating Federation of Russia|the Russian skating federation]]. Witnesses of Le Gougne's statement were [[Sally-Anne Stapleford]] (Great Britain), [[Britta Lindgren]] (Sweden), [[Walburga Grimm]] (Germany), and [[Jon Jackson (figure skater)|Jon Jackson]] (USA). Gailhaguet's chauffeur in Salt Lake City additionally testified to having overheard evidence of his involvement on the scandal. Le Gougne later rescinded her statement and said she had been pressured to make it.<ref name=NYT020501/>


⚫
The scandal attracted nationwide news coverage and denunciations from prominent skaters, including Olympic ice dance champion [[Gwendal Peizerat]]. She said that Gailhaguet's control of FFSG affairs had previously meant that "to oppose him is to become [[persona non grata]]." [[Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports (France)|Sports Minister]] [[Roxana Mărăcineanu]] insisted that Gailhaguet resign as FFSG president lest the organization otherwise be decertified. Initially defiant, he ultimately agreed to resign his post, and was succeeded by [[Nathalie Péchalat]].<ref name=EN200208/><ref name=ST200315/>
⚫
Gailhaguet was excluded from any [[International Skating Union]] event for three years, beginning 30 April 2002, and has been excluded as an ISU council member.<ref name=NYT020501/> He resigned as president of the FFSG on 12 May 2004 but was re-elected to that position in December 2007.


Péchalat imposed new term limits on service as the federation president, a measure generally perceived as being aimed at preventing a third Gailhaguet tenure in the office. When she sought reelection in the summer of 2022, she was unexpectedly defeated by the largely unknown Gwenaëlle Noury, who was widely seen as being controlled by Gailhaguet. He denied any involvement.<ref name=Eurosport220625/><ref name=Journal220620/><ref name=LeParisien220626/>
⚫
Another scandal engulfed Gailhaguet in February of 2020 when he was accused by retired pair skater [[Sarah Abitbol]] of having covered up abuse allegations against one of his allies, longtime coach and FFSG official [[Gilles Beyer]].<ref name=Equipe200129/><ref name=Equipe200128/> This coincided with Gailhaguet's efforts to defend pair skater [[Morgan Ciprès]], who was accused of having [[Sexting|sent a picture of his penis]] to a 13-year-old girl at his training center in Florida.<ref name=USAT-121019/> The scandal attracted nationwide news coverage and denunciations from prominent skaters, including Olympic ice dance champion [[Gwendal Peizerat]], who said Gailhaguet's control of FFSG affairs had previously meant that "to oppose him is to become [[persona non grata]]." This resulted in an ultimatum from [[Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports (France)|Sports Minister]] [[Roxana Mărăcineanu]] that Gailhaguet resign as FFSG president lest the organization otherwise be decertified. Initially defiant, he ultimately agreed to resign his post, and was succeeded by [[Nathalie Péchalat]].<ref name=EN200208/><ref name=ST200315/>


==Results==
==Results==
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<ref name=NYT921217>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/17/sports/17iht-bona.html |title= California Training Helps Bonaly Bloom: French Skater Discovers U.S. |first= Christopher |last= Clarey |work= The New York Times |date=17 December 1992}}</ref>
<ref name=NYT921217>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/17/sports/17iht-bona.html |title= California Training Helps Bonaly Bloom: French Skater Discovers U.S. |first= Christopher |last= Clarey |work= The New York Times |date=17 December 1992}}</ref>


<ref name=NYT020501>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/01/sports/figure-skating-2-french-officials-suspended-3-years-in-skating-scandal.html |title= FIGURE SKATING; 2 French Officials Suspended 3 Years In Skating Scandal |first=Christopher |last=Clarey |work=[[New York Times]] |date= May 1, 2002}}</ref>
<ref name=NYT020501>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/01/sports/figure-skating-2-french-officials-suspended-3-years-in-skating-scandal.html |title= FIGURE SKATING; 2 French Officials Suspended 3 Years In Skating Scandal |first=Christopher |last=Clarey |work=[[The New York Times]] |date= 1 May 2002}}</ref>


<ref name=Equipe200129>{{cite news |url= https://www.lequipe.fr/Patinage-artistique/Actualites/Patinage-artistique-l-ancienne-championne-sarah-abitbol-affirme-avoir-ete-violee-par-son-ancien-entraineur/1103834 |title= Patinage artistique : l'ancienne championne Sarah Abitbol affirme avoir été violée par son ancien entraîneur |language= French |trans-title= Figure skating: Former champion Sarah Abitbol states that she was raped by her former coach |work= [[L'Equipe]] |date= 29 January 2020 }}</ref>
<ref name=Equipe200129>{{cite news |url= https://www.lequipe.fr/Patinage-artistique/Actualites/Patinage-artistique-l-ancienne-championne-sarah-abitbol-affirme-avoir-ete-violee-par-son-ancien-entraineur/1103834 |title= Patinage artistique : l'ancienne championne Sarah Abitbol affirme avoir été violée par son ancien entraîneur |language= French |trans-title= Figure skating: Former champion Sarah Abitbol states that she was raped by her former coach |work= [[L'Equipe]] |date= 29 January 2020 }}</ref>
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<ref name=Equipe200128>{{cite news |url= https://www.lequipe.fr/Tous-sports/Article/La-fin-de-l-omerta-sur-les-violences-sexuelles-la-jeunesse-volee-des-patineuses/1103759 |title= La fin de l'omerta sur les violences sexuelles : la jeunesse volée des patineuses |language= French |trans-title= The end of the omerta surrounding sexual violence: The stolen youth of skaters |first= Jean-Christophe |last= Collin |first2= Grégoire |last2= Fleurot |work= [[L'Equipe]] |date= 28 January 2020 }}</ref>
<ref name=Equipe200128>{{cite news |url= https://www.lequipe.fr/Tous-sports/Article/La-fin-de-l-omerta-sur-les-violences-sexuelles-la-jeunesse-volee-des-patineuses/1103759 |title= La fin de l'omerta sur les violences sexuelles : la jeunesse volée des patineuses |language= French |trans-title= The end of the omerta surrounding sexual violence: The stolen youth of skaters |first= Jean-Christophe |last= Collin |first2= Grégoire |last2= Fleurot |work= [[L'Equipe]] |date= 28 January 2020 }}</ref>


<ref name=EN200208>{{cite news |title= French skating chief Didier Gailhaguet resigns amid sexual assault scandal |url=https://www.euronews.com/2020/02/08/french-skating-chief-didier-gailhaguet-resigns-amid-sexual-assault-scandal |first= Julie |last= Gaubert |work= [[Euronews]] |date= February 8, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name=EN200208>{{cite news |title= French skating chief Didier Gailhaguet resigns amid sexual assault scandal |url=https://www.euronews.com/2020/02/08/french-skating-chief-didier-gailhaguet-resigns-amid-sexual-assault-scandal |first= Julie |last= Gaubert |work= [[Euronews]] |date= 8 February 2020}}</ref>


<ref name=USAT-121019>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2019/12/10/sexual-abuse-olympic-figure-skater-coaches-being-investigated/2629777001/|title=Olympic figure skater, coaches being investigated for sexual abuse allegations|first=Christine|last=Brennan|author-link=Christine Brennan|publisher=[[USA Today]]|date=December 10, 2019}}</ref>
<ref name=USAT-121019>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2019/12/10/sexual-abuse-olympic-figure-skater-coaches-being-investigated/2629777001/|title=Olympic figure skater, coaches being investigated for sexual abuse allegations|first=Christine|last=Brennan|author-link=Christine Brennan|work=[[USA Today]]|date=10 December 2019}}</ref>


<ref name=ST200315>{{cite news |title= Figure skating: Nathalie Pechalat becomes French ice sports boss after rivals pull out citing coronavirus |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/figure-skating-nathalie-pechalat-becomes-french-ice-sports-boss-after-rivals-pull-out-citing |work= [[The Straits Times]] |date= March 15, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name=ST200315>{{cite news |title= Figure skating: Nathalie Pechalat becomes French ice sports boss after rivals pull out citing coronavirus |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/figure-skating-nathalie-pechalat-becomes-french-ice-sports-boss-after-rivals-pull-out-citing |work= [[The Straits Times]] |date= 15 March 2020}}</ref>


<ref name=YN200208>{{cite news |title= French figure skating boss resigns over sex abuse scandal |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/french-figure-skating-boss-resigns-142216531.html |work= [[Yahoo! News]] |date= February 8, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name=YN200208>{{cite news |title= French figure skating boss resigns over sex abuse scandal |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/french-figure-skating-boss-resigns-142216531.html |work= [[Yahoo! News]] |date= 8 February 2020}}</ref>

<ref name=Eurosport220625>{{cite news | url = https://www.eurosport.fr/omnisport/nathalie-pechalat-battue-gwenaelle-noury-nouvelle-presidente-de-la-federation_sto9005409/story.shtml | title = Nathalie Péchalat Battue, Gwenaëlle Noury Nouvelle Preésidente de la Fédération | language = fr |trans-title=Nathalie Péchalat Beaten, Gwenaëlle Noury New President of the Federation | work=[[Eurosport]] | date= 25 June 2022 }}</ref>

<ref name=Journal220620>{{cite news | url = https://www.eurosport.fr/omnisport/nathalie-pechalat-battue-gwenaelle-noury-nouvelle-presidente-de-la-federation_sto9005409/story.shtml | title = Patinage : comment l’ex-président de la fédération, Didier Gailhaguet, est revenu en coulisses |last=Burnier |first=Damien | language = fr |trans-title=Skating: how the ex-president of the federation, Didier Gailhaguet, came back behind the scenes | work=[[Le Journal du Dimanche]] | date= 20 June 2022 }}</ref>

<ref name=LeParisien220626>{{cite news | url = https://www.leparisien.fr/sports/sports-de-glace-la-ministre-des-sports-a-propose-une-rencontre-a-la-nouvelle-presidente-de-la-federation-26-06-2022-XOGACH2A2JEAVMJTRYMBXF3UDU.php | title = Sports de glace : la ministre des Sports a proposé une rencontre à la nouvelle présidente de la Fédération | language = fr |trans-title=Ice sports: the Minister of Sports proposed a meeting with the new president of the Federation | work=[[Le Parisien]] | date= 26 June 2022 }}</ref>


}}
}}
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{{NavigationFrenchChampionsFigureSkatingMen}}


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[[Category:French male single skaters]]
[[Category:Figure skaters at the 1972 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Figure skaters at the 1972 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic figure skaters of France]]
[[Category:Olympic figure skaters for France]]
[[Category:Figure skating officials]]
[[Category:Figure skating officials]]
[[Category:French figure skating coaches]]
[[Category:French figure skating coaches]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Béziers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Béziers]]


{{France-figure-skating-bio-stub}}

Latest revision as of 01:22, 24 May 2023

Didier Gailhaguet
Didier Gailhaguet at the 2012 World Championships
Personal information
Born (1953-08-22) 22 August 1953 (age 70)
Béziers, France
Sport
Country France
Sportfigure skating

Didier Gailhaguet (born 22 August 1953) is a French former figure skater, coach and official. He served as the president of the Fédération française des sports de glace (FFSG) from 1998 to 2004 and again from 2007 to 2020. He was suspended each time because of related scandals. At the peak of his power, he was one of figure skating's most influential and controversial officials, dubbed the "little Napoleon."[1]

Skating and coaching[edit]

As a skater, Gailhaguet competed at the senior level for five seasons, performing at the World Championships in all five. He won the French national title twice, and represented France at the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, where he placed thirteenth.

After retiring from competition, Gailhaguet became a coach. His most famous student was Surya Bonaly, whom he began coaching in 1984. He aggressively promoted Bonaly to the public, including creating a backstory that she had been born on Réunion and found abandoned on a beach, when in reality Bonaly was born in France and adopted at the age of eight months.[2][3]

Under his guidance, Bonaly became the ladies' World Junior Champion in 1991. On the senior level, she won the French national title four times consecutively, as well as two European titles. Bonaly left Gailhaguet's school at the conclusion of the 1991–1992 season, following the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville.[4][5]

Federation president and scandals[edit]

First taking the reins of the FFSG in 1998, Gailhaguet was a central figure in the 2002 Olympic Winter Games figure skating scandal, in which French judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne said that she had judged wrongly in the pairs competition under pressure from Gailhaguet as part of an arrangement between the FFSG and the Russian skating federation related to the future ice dance competition. Witnesses of Le Gougne's statement were Sally-Anne Stapleford (Great Britain), Britta Lindgren (Sweden), Walburga Grimm (Germany), and Jon Jackson (USA). Gailhaguet's chauffeur in Salt Lake City also testified to having overheard evidence of his involvement in the scandal. Le Gougne later rescinded this statement, saying that she had been pressured to make it.[6]

Gailhaguet was excluded from any International Skating Union event for three years, beginning 30 April 2002. He has been excluded as an ISU council member.[6] He resigned as president of the FFSG on 12 May 2004 but was re-elected to that position after his suspension ended, in December 2007.

In February 2020, retired pair skater Sarah Abitbol accused Gailhaguet of having covered up her abuse allegations against one of his allies, longtime coach and FFSG official Gilles Beyer.[7][8] Although the statute of limitations precluded prosecution of Abitbol's allegations, several other former students of Beyer made similar claims. Concurrently, Gailhaguet was attempting to defend pair skater Morgan Ciprès, who was accused of having sent a picture of his penis to a 13-year-old girl at his training center in Florida.[9]

The scandal attracted nationwide news coverage and denunciations from prominent skaters, including Olympic ice dance champion Gwendal Peizerat. She said that Gailhaguet's control of FFSG affairs had previously meant that "to oppose him is to become persona non grata." Sports Minister Roxana Mărăcineanu insisted that Gailhaguet resign as FFSG president lest the organization otherwise be decertified. Initially defiant, he ultimately agreed to resign his post, and was succeeded by Nathalie Péchalat.[10][11]

Péchalat imposed new term limits on service as the federation president, a measure generally perceived as being aimed at preventing a third Gailhaguet tenure in the office. When she sought reelection in the summer of 2022, she was unexpectedly defeated by the largely unknown Gwenaëlle Noury, who was widely seen as being controlled by Gailhaguet. He denied any involvement.[12][13][14]

Results[edit]

Event 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975
Winter Olympics 13th
World Championships 19th 10th 13th 10th 13th
European Championships 19th 10th 8th 7th 9th
French Championships 3rd 3rd 2nd 1st 1st

References[edit]

  1. ^ "French figure skating boss resigns over sex abuse scandal". Yahoo! News. 8 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Surya Bonaly, Corps et lames: episode 5". Binge. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  3. ^ Johnette Howard. "Over easy for Surya Bonaly the skating has never been the hard part". Vault. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Surya s'eclipse". L'Humanité (in French). 31 March 1992.
  5. ^ Clarey, Christopher (17 December 1992). "California Training Helps Bonaly Bloom: French Skater Discovers U.S." The New York Times.
  6. ^ a b Clarey, Christopher (1 May 2002). "FIGURE SKATING; 2 French Officials Suspended 3 Years In Skating Scandal". The New York Times.
  7. ^ "Patinage artistique : l'ancienne championne Sarah Abitbol affirme avoir été violée par son ancien entraîneur" [Figure skating: Former champion Sarah Abitbol states that she was raped by her former coach]. L'Equipe (in French). 29 January 2020.
  8. ^ Collin, Jean-Christophe; Fleurot, Grégoire (28 January 2020). "La fin de l'omerta sur les violences sexuelles : la jeunesse volée des patineuses" [The end of the omerta surrounding sexual violence: The stolen youth of skaters]. L'Equipe (in French).
  9. ^ Brennan, Christine (10 December 2019). "Olympic figure skater, coaches being investigated for sexual abuse allegations". USA Today.
  10. ^ Gaubert, Julie (8 February 2020). "French skating chief Didier Gailhaguet resigns amid sexual assault scandal". Euronews.
  11. ^ "Figure skating: Nathalie Pechalat becomes French ice sports boss after rivals pull out citing coronavirus". The Straits Times. 15 March 2020.
  12. ^ "Nathalie Péchalat Battue, Gwenaëlle Noury Nouvelle Preésidente de la Fédération" [Nathalie Péchalat Beaten, Gwenaëlle Noury New President of the Federation]. Eurosport (in French). 25 June 2022.
  13. ^ Burnier, Damien (20 June 2022). "Patinage : comment l'ex-président de la fédération, Didier Gailhaguet, est revenu en coulisses" [Skating: how the ex-president of the federation, Didier Gailhaguet, came back behind the scenes]. Le Journal du Dimanche (in French).
  14. ^ "Sports de glace : la ministre des Sports a proposé une rencontre à la nouvelle présidente de la Fédération" [Ice sports: the Minister of Sports proposed a meeting with the new president of the Federation]. Le Parisien (in French). 26 June 2022.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Didier_Gailhaguet&oldid=1156670329"