Perrine PELEN

Primarily a technical racer, Perrine Pelen spent 10 seasons on the World Cup circuit, from 1977-86, winning 15 slalom races and appearing on the podium 43 times, 36 in slalom and 7 in giant slalom. She was seasonal World Cup champion in slalom in the 1979-80 season, placing on the podium in slalom seven times in the seasonal competition. Pelen’s three Olympic medals came in giant slalom in 1980 and 1984, winning bronzes, and in slalom in 1984, when she won silver. She also won two World Championship medals, topped by the gold in slalom at the 1985 World in Bormio, Italy, which she added to a silver in the combined won in 1982 at Schladming, Austria.

Pelen retired from racing in 1986 to complete her studies in physical therapy at the Institut Supérieur des Affaires. She later left that career and became adjoint director of the Tourist Department for the Savoie region.