At 53, the former skater, who has become a media character, is embarking on a new adventure.
Former skater Philippe Candeloro, double Olympic medalist, has run as a candidate to head the French Ice Sports Federation, he announced Tuesday during a press briefing.
« (I want) this small conference to officially announce my candidacy for the presidency of the French Ice Sports Federation (whose election will be held on June 27 and 28) “, declared the 53-year-old former skater.
“There is a particular ambition because there are the Olympic Games in France in 2030,” he continued. “So, it is a major challenge for this federation not to make a revolution, but rather to find an evolution. That will be my watchword to attack this federation. »
“I think I will be a somewhat atypical president”
A charismatic figure in skating in the 1990s, whose codes he strived to break, Candeloro still enjoys immense popularity, both for his track record and for his personality.
“I think I will be a somewhat unusual president. Because I am still active, because I am popular, known, recognized, outspoken, with a language that may not please everyone,” he admitted.
The double world (1994, 1995) and Olympic (1994, 1998) medalist is counting on his popularity to develop the financial resources of the federal body. “My campaign will focus a lot on the financial and commercial aspect of this federation”, which he described as “a little dormant today”.
Concerning the other disciplines affiliated with the FFSG (bobsleigh, luge, skeleton, curling, short-track), Candeloro indicated that he wanted to ultimately give them more “autonomy”.
“I hope to be the president who will allow all these disciplines which are not exploited today to find their autonomy.”
Besides Candeloro, three other candidates plan to run in the election, the former president of the Grenoble club Gérard Balthazard, the ex-skater Maxime Combes and the outgoing president Gwenaëlle Noury.
