Didier Gailhaguet

Didier Gailhaguet (born 22 August 1953 in Béziers, France) is a former French figure skater who was the president of the Fédération française des sports de glace for many years.

Didier Gailhaguet at the 2012 World Figure Skating Championships

Gailhaguet was a central figure in the 2002 Olympic Winter Games figure skating scandal, in which French judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne said that she had judged wrongly in the pairs competition under pressure from Gailhaguet, who was at that time the president of the French federation. Witnesses of Le Gougne's statement were Sally-Anne Stapleford (Great Britain), Britta Lindgren (Sweden), Walburga Grimm (Germany), and Jon Jackson (USA). Gailhaguet's chauffeur in Salt Lake City additionally testified to having overheard evidence of his involvement on the scandal. Le Gougne later rescinded her statement and said she had been pressured to make it.

Gailhaguet was excluded from any International Skating Union event for three years, beginning 30 April 2002, and has been excluded as an ISU council member. He resigned as president of the French Ice Sports Federation on 12 May 2004 but was re-elected to that position in December 2007.

In February 2020, Gailhaguet resigned in the wake of allegations that he had covered up for a coach accused of rape and sexual abuse by former figure skaters.[1]

Earlier in his career, Gailhaguet was the coach of French skater Surya Bonaly.