Henri Duvillard

Henri " Dudu " Duvillard ( born December 23, 1947 in Megève ) is a French former alpine skier. In the late 1960s and early 1970s he was one of the world's most successful athletes. He won six World Cup races in all three disciplines then discharged and was twice second in the overall standings of the Alpine World Cup. He is the brother of Adrien Duvillard and the uncle of Adrien Duvillard junior, both of which were also skier.

Biography

The first World Cup points won Duvillard on 29 January 1967 as a tenth of the slalom in his birthplace of Megève. The first podium finish followed on December 12, 1968 in the giant slalom in Val d'Isere. Just over a month later, he won on January 24, 1969 again in Megève, the departure and thus his first World Cup race. As a result, he established himself in all three disciplines then discharged to the world's best. In the 1970 World Cup in Val Gardena, he was the high expectations, however, does not do justice, and drove in the exit only to 25th place

Both in the 1970/71 season and in the 1971/72 season was Duvillard each second overall of the world cup. Both times he had to be the Italians Gustav Thöni beaten. Also at the Olympic Winter Games in 1972 in Sapporo Duvillard won a medal: In the slalom, he missed nearly a fourth podium finish in the downhill, he lost a lot of time and in the giant slalom, he left.

The other highly favored French skiers remained without a medal, which resulted in a nasty press campaign. The Ski appointed by Georges Joubert a new coach, did not understand, however, with the numerous athletes. Although Duvillard could win a race in January 1973, otherwise his achievements, however, remained rather average. End of the 1972/73 season were Duvillard and Patrick Russell and painted by Jean-Noël Augert by the Association for alleged insubordination from the squad and thereby forced to end career.

From 1974, Duvillard in the United States and participated there for three years at the then-popular professional ski tour. 1975/76 he won the overall title and subsequently retired from professional sports. Duvillard has since been working as a designer of skiwear. He is married to the former alpine skier Britt Lafforgue, his father was Maurice Lafforgue.

Achievements

Olympic games

  • Sapporo in 1972: 4 slalom, downhill 19

World Championships

  • Gardena 1970: 25 Departure

World Cup ratings

  • 1968/69 season: 6 Overall World Cup, 2nd exit, 9 Giant Slalom
  • Season 1969/70: 8 Overall World Cup, 3rd exit
  • 1970/71 season: 2nd Overall World Cup, 4th exit, 4 Giant Slalom
  • 1971/72 season: 2nd Overall World Cup Giant Slalom 5th, 6th downhill, slalom 6
  • 1972/73 season: 11th in the overall World Cup, 6th Slalom, Giant Slalom 8

World Cup wins

French Championships

  • French champion in the giant slalom in 1970 and in the downhill in 1971
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