Chiharu Igaya

Chiharu Igaya is Japan’s first, and as of 2009, only, Olympic medallist in alpine skiing. A slalom specialist, his capabilities greatly improved during his study at Dartmouth, where he was trained by former downhill World Champion Walter Prager. This first paid off in 1956, when Igaya won a silver medal in the Cortina Olympic slalom. His medal was Japan’s first at the Winter Olympics. Two years later, he won a bronze at the World Championships. Following completion of his studies, Igaya started working in insurance, eventually rising to president of the Japanese branch of AIU. Simultaneously, he also began a career in sports administration. Igaya has been on the FIS alpine skiing committee and rose to vice-president of the International Triathlon Union. In 1982, he became an IOC member, and has since served on the executive board. He became vice-president in 2005.