Jean Vuarnet, the French ski champion who gave his name to the winter sports and eyewear brand, passed away early this year in Sallanches, at the age of 83. He won a gold medal in downhill skiing at the Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley in 1960 and became famous for adopting an aerodynamic crouch that became known in French as the “egg” position. Vuarnet won the race on metal skis, which were a novelty, along with anti-glare glasses that enabled him to more clearly discern the terrain. The makers of the lenses, the opticians Roger Pouilloux and Joseph Hatchiguian, then offered to market sunglasses using Vuarnet's name, in 1961. Vuarnet also contributed to the development of the French ski resort of Avoriaz, among other projects. The ski champion suffered family drama when his wife and his youngest son, Patrick, died in an apparent cult ritual, in 1995. Jean Vuarnet had two other sons, Pierre and Alain. The latter has been strongly involved in the brand's development.

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