James Couttet

Biography

James Couttet, born July 6, 1921 in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc in the hamlet of Bossons, and died November 13, 1997 in the same town, was a French alpine skier and mountaineer, member of the Club des Sports Chamonix-Mont-Blanc.

James Couttet was world downhill champion in March 1938 at the age of 16 and a half, then dominated the first post-war competitions with three victories at Arlberg-Kandahar in 1947, 1948 and 1950 and two K diamond. Favorite at the 1948 Olympic Games and the 1950 World Championships, he did not win any Olympic and world titles: the Second World War will undoubtedly have cost the French a few gold medals. He retired from alpine competition in 1955 and trained the French alpin...