Michaël Prüfer
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing  France | ||
| Men's speed skiing | ||
| Winter Olympic Games | ||
.svg.png){kind=icon} | 1992 Albertville | Speed skiing |
Michaël Prüfer (born 6 November 1959[1]) is a French former speed skier and physician. He is best known for winning the speed skiing demonstration event at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, where he set a then-world record speed of 229.299 kilometres per hour (142 mph). He was one of the leading competitors in speed skiing during the late 1980s and early 1990s.[2]
Career
Prüfer emerged as one of the world's top speed skiers in the 1980s, setting world records in 1987 and 1988.[2][3][4] He primarily represented France but also represented Monaco for a period around 1990.[5]
At the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, where speed skiing was contested as a demonstration sport, Prüfer won the men's event and established a new world record of 229.299 km/h. The achievement made him the only male athlete to win an Olympic speed skiing title, as the discipline was never included as a medal event in subsequent Olympic Games.[2]
Prüfer worked as a doctor while still actively competing in speed skiing, and advised Formula 1 drivers such as Alain Prost.[5] He currently works as an angiologist in France.[2]
References
- ↑ "Michaël Prufer". Olympedia. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Baheux, Romain (1 February 2022). "JO d'hiver : Michaël Prüfer, la « machine à gagner inhumaine » qui a frôlé les 230 km/h sur la neige d'Albertville". Le Parisien. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
- ↑ "Michael Prufer of France Friday set a world speed..." UPI. 1987-10-02. Retrieved 2026-06-21.
- ↑ "World Cup Speed Skiing Makes its U.S. Debut". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. 7 March 1990. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Record-holders lead speed skiers". UPI. 1990-03-08. Retrieved 2026-06-21.