On the occasion of the publication of the book “Le jour J.O.: comment ils sont devenus champions olympiques” by Glénat Editions, released on November 15th, one of the two authors, Bruno Kauffmann, will be at the Jean Jaurès bookstore (2 rue centrale) this Saturday, from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM, for a book signing session.
As the Winter Olympics are in full swing in Pyeongchang (South Korea), Bruno Kauffmann, a former sports journalist at TF1 and communications director of the French Rugby Federation, and Gilles Chappaz, currently a documentary filmmaker and author on skiing and mountaineering, highlight twenty-five French Olympic champions in their book.
Through anecdotes, testimonies, and memories, the two men recount these “Olympic days.” Days during which French gold medalists, from Jean-Claude Killy to Martin Fourcade, or the Goitschel sisters to Karine Ruby, stepped into a new dimension: becoming Olympic champions.
From choosing skis or snowboards, waxing according to weather conditions, recognizing the track, to drawing lots for the bibs, then the race, to the precious golden grail, (re)live these unique moments of glory, inscribed in history forever.
Five questions for Bruno Kauffmann
Before the signing session at Jean Jaurès bookstore, we asked Bruno Kauffmann, co-author of “Le jour J.O.: comment ils sont devenus champions olympiques,” five questions.
How did the idea for “Olympic day” come about?
“When I worked at TF1, I extensively covered skiing events. To be honest, I was somewhat of a specialist. I attended major World Cup events like Kitzbühel and Garmisch-Partenkirchen. In this context, I met Gilles Chappaz, former editor-in-chief of Ski Français and deputy editor at L’Équipe Magazine. In 2001, I left journalism to become the communications director of the French Rugby Federation. Today, I run a company. I hadn’t written in a long time, and I wanted to write a book, particularly about skiing. My idea was to relive that special day when French athletes became Olympic champions. The day their destiny simply changed. I was looking for a publisher, so I called Gilles Chappaz to share my project, and he replied, “it’s funny, I had exactly the same idea!” In view of the Pyeongchang Olympiad, I really wanted to focus the work on the Olympic Games. So I told him, “you wanted to do it, so did I, let’s work together!” Thanks to his previous works, Gilles Chappaz has privileged relations with Glénat publishing, so we turned to them, and that’s how it all started.”
What were the steps from the project’s inception to its completion?
“During the summer of 2016, we wrote a synopsis that we sent to Glénat. Our outline was approved. From there, we started working. I went to L’Équipe and reread all the articles from the days following the victories. However, I didn’t want to read too many articles to avoid being influenced. Later, we met in Chamonix, at Gilles’s chalet, to divide the work. Since he knows all these stories by heart, he chose to handle the athletes who had passed away (Henri Oreiller, Jean Vuarnet, François Bonlieu, and Karine Ruby). Gilles Chappaz conducted many interviews by phone. Personally, I wanted to meet all the athletes in person. Each time, I asked them to tell me, in detail, what happened on their day of glory. Take the Goitschel sisters: they recalled every detail of that famous day, even though they were medaled in 1964! We also visited the library of the National School of Skiing and Mountaineering in Chamonix. There, there’s a lot of archives, so we tried to gather as many documents as possible. From January to February 2017, I went to meet the athletes. I started writing my chapters in March. Gilles Chappaz submitted his copy in May, mine, a little later, in June. In September, a proofreader reviewed all our papers and corrected them. Finally, our book went to print and was published on November 15th. With Gilles, we collaborated well: we exchanged our papers, gave feedback on each other’s work. It was a wonderful adventure for two, really very pleasant.”
How did the encounters with the athletes go?
“It was fabulous. Naturally, for them, it’s a joy to recount that day. For many, it changed their lives. Some athletes were tense, others a bit less. Jean-Luc Crétier, Olympic downhill champion in Nagano (Japan) in 1998, shed a tear at the end of our interview. Remembering those moments overwhelmed him with emotion. Yet, his victory dates back 20 years! Each encounter was humanly interesting: they are different personalities, from various cultures. Each of these stories contributes, in its own way, to the development of winter sports: the relationship with equipment, physical condition, mental preparation, technical evolution…”
Which “Olympic day” impressed you the most?
“It’s hard to say… Each one has its own journey. Each story is different. Pierre Vaultier’s particularly touched me. For the interview, he invited me to his home in Serre-Chevalier. Before that, I had never met him. I discovered a humble, intelligent, and simple man. He doesn’t fit the image of a somewhat wild snowboarder at all. Quite the opposite. He told me his story. The story of his absolutely extraordinary Olympic medal. In November 2013, two months before the Olympics, he got injured. Diagnosis: partial rupture of the right knee’s cruciate ligaments. His doctor hesitated to operate but opted for another plan: a massive course of corticosteroids to stop the inflammation and dry up his knee, then rebuild muscles. There was still a small hope for the Sochi Games. Until 2014, Pierre Vaultier dominated his discipline but faltered at each major event due to the stakes. In Russia, he completely de-dramatized the event, and there, at only 50% of his physical capacity, he became an Olympic champion.”
What did you feel upon the release of this book? And now, do you intend to publish a second one?
“This book was my first. A book is primarily an object. It isn’t just about reading but a real product. When you see it and hold it for the first time, especially when it’s yours, you feel a unique sensation. Currently, I’m working on a project about rugby, but I can’t tell you more at the moment.”
by Solène FALAISE
