10 Facts About Didier Gailhaguet

Didier Gailhaguet was born on 22 August 1953 and is a French former figure skater, coach and official.

Didier Gailhaguet served as the president of the Federation francaise des sports de glace from 1998 to 2004 and again from 2007 to 2020.

Didier Gailhaguet was suspended each time because of related scandals.

Didier Gailhaguet won the French national title twice, and represented France at the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, where he placed thirteenth.

Didier Gailhaguet aggressively promoted Bonaly to the public, including creating a backstory that she had been born on Reunion and found abandoned on a beach, when in reality Bonaly was born in France and adopted at the age of eight months.

Didier Gailhaguet was excluded from any International Skating Union event for three years, beginning 30 April 2002.

Didier Gailhaguet has been excluded as an ISU council member.

Didier Gailhaguet resigned as president of the FFSG on 12 May 2004 but was re-elected to that position after his suspension ended, in December 2007.

In February 2020, retired pair skater Sarah Abitbol accused Didier Gailhaguet of having covered up her abuse allegations against one of his allies, longtime coach and FFSG official Gilles Beyer.

Concurrently, Didier Gailhaguet was attempting to defend pair skater Morgan Cipres, who was accused of having sent a picture of his penis to a 13-year-old girl at his training center in Florida.