François Bonlieu

François Bonlieu became a member of the French ski team when he was only 15 years old. In 1954, when only 17, he won a silver medal in the giant slalom at the World Championships in Aare. In 1958, Bonlieu added a World bronze medal at the championships in Bad Gastein, Austria. Although he competed at both the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Winter Games, he had failed to win a medal. In 1964, however, he came thru to win the gold medal in the giant slalom at Innsbruck. He was also a two-time slalom winner at the Arlberg-Kandahar, in 1959 and 1963, and was a three-time French national champion. Bonlieu’s sister, Edith, also skied at the 1956 Winter Olympics. François Bonlieu eventually was killed in a fight in Cannes on the Promenade de la Croisette, after an argument.