A gold medalist in freestyle skiing moguls at the 1994 Winter Olympics, Jean-Luc Brassard was no stranger to victory, having won the right to be named World and Canadian Champion at the event in 1993. He began skiing at the age of eight, was named to the national team at the age of 17 and won his first World Cup race a year later. He won the Canadian title again in 1995 and the World Cup in 1996 and 1997 and was for many years the leader of the elite freestyle skiing team known as the “Quebec Air Force”. After 1999, his career began to slow and was worsened by a knee injury in 2000 that forced him to miss the 2000-2001 season. He had previously competed at the 1992 Winter Olympics, and later tried for a second medal at the event in 1998 (the year that he carried the Canadian flag in the opening ceremonies) and 2002, but never again saw the podium at the Olympics. Well known for his charity work, particularly with the French division of the Children’s Miracle Network, he was given the 2000 Gillette Sport Award for his dedication to charitable endeavors. Since his retirement, he has worked with the National Speakers Bureau.
Canada