Sergei SHUPLETSOV

Sergey Shupletsov took up alpine skiing at the age of seven and when he was 15, was introduced to a new style of skiing, the freestyle skiing that gained popularity during the 1980s. Shupletsov started to compete in World Cup freestyle races in January 1990 and only a month later achieved his first World Cup victory in La Plagne, France in the combined event. Early in his career, Shupletsov competed at all three freestyle skiing events contested at that time and was World Champion in the combined event in 1991 (after placing fourth in moguls, 14th in ski ballet and 27th in aerials) and 1993 (after placing eighth in moguls, 17th in ski ballet and 27th in aerials). But after winning his first World Cup race in moguls in January 1994 in Blackcomb, Canada and winning a silver medal in moguls at the 1994 Olympics, Shupletsov decided to concentrate only on moguls, although he did win the overall World Cup in combined event in 1993-94 season. In the next season, by then competing only in moguls, Shupletsov was nearly unbeatable on the World Cup circuit, winning six races, placing second in three races, and winning the overall moguls World Cup that season. But at the 1995 World Championships, Shupletsov only managed to win a bronze in moguls. In May 1995, Shupletsov married French national team member Ingrid Goy and the newlyweds settled in La Clusaz, France. On 14 July 1995, Shupletsov, on his motorcycle, collided with a car turning to a main road near his home, and died at the scene, while the hit-and-run car fled. It was known that Shupletsov liked to drive his motorcycle at a very high speed and at the time of the accident his motorcycle’s speedometer was stalled at 180 km/hr.