France has appeared at every winter Olympic game since the first ever winter games at Chamonix 1924 (they were the host country). Ever since Chamonix, French winter athletes have achieved the task of winning 94 medals, including 27 gold medals.
Perhaps the most successful French winter Olympic athlete of all time is Alpine skier Jean Claude Killy (pictured). Killy won all three medals--in men's downhill, slalom and giant slalom--at Grenoble 1968 (again, France was the host country). He would later appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
There have been four two time gold medalists for France in the winter Olympics. The duo of Pierre Brunet and Andree Brunet Joly (both pictured) won twice in the mixed pairs figure skating event, first at St. Moritz 1928 and again at Lake Placid 1932. The Brunets won the first winter Olympic gold medals for France. It was then followed by great performances by Henri Oreiller, who won gold twice--in the men's downhill and combined Alpine at St. Moritz 1948. And Marielle Goitschel was France's only other multiple winter Olympic gold medalist, when she won two golds. Her first was in the giant slalom at Innsbruck 1964 and in the giant slalom at Grenoble 1968.
For Sochi, France will have 23 quota spots, including spots in biathlon and speed skating events.
France hosted the winter Olympics three times, starting with the very first winter Olympic games at Chamonix 1924. 44 years later, Grenoble hosted the winter games, and then it was Albertville in 1992, as that locale is the most recent French city to host an Olympic games period.
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