Born in Angers on April 29, 1886, Renaud de la Frégeolière is a leading figure in French sport and aviation. Having graduated from the Faculty of Science at the Université Catholique de l'Ouest (UCO) in 1907, he could have chosen a more conventional career path. But his spirit of adventure and daring led him to an extraordinary destiny.

A bobsleigh enthusiast

It all began in 1907, when he discovered bobsleighing during a downhill run in Leysin, Switzerland. The sport quickly became a passion, and in 1910 he won the prestigious Coupe du Président de la République with his bobsleigh named "Jeanne d'Arc", followed by victory in the Coupe du Mont Blanc in Chamonix. His sporting career culminated in 1923 when he founded the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (FIBT), an institution he presided over for 37 years. He played a crucial role in the construction of the Olympic bobsleigh track at the 1924 Winter Games in Chamonix, a landmark event for the sport.

Heroes of the First World War

When the First World War broke out, Renaud de la Frégeolière joined the French air force. In 1914, he was seriously wounded and captured by the enemy, but managed to escape and return to the front. Despite a serious wound, he became an exceptional pilot, racking up a string of aerial exploits. In 1918, he shot down an Albatros D.III with his fellow pilot Captain Armand de Turenne. His courage earned him several distinctions, including the Military Medal and four commendations for his feats of arms. An extract from a military citation testifies to his bravery: "Elite officer, pilot of great valour, [...] attacked a group of 12 enemy aircraft... jammed from the start of the fight, remained in the thick of the fray, until a bullet broke his wrist."

A winter sports pioneer

A visionary and pioneer, Renaud de la Frégeolière not only left his mark on bobsleigh history, but also contributed to the development of winter sports in Europe. As a judge at 50 bobsleigh World Championships and 10 Olympic Games between 1924 and 1960, he became an international reference in the field. After retiring in 1960, he was appointed Honorary President of the FIBT, a position he held until his death in 1981.