Tribute to Jean-Pierre Giudicelli OLY (1943-2024)

One of France’s most revered Modern Pentathlon icons, two-time Olympian Jean-Pierre Giudicelli, has passed away at the age of 81.

A team bronze medallist from the Mexico 1968 Olympic Games who finished 7th at the following Games in Munich in 1972, and competed in both individual events, Guidicelli was even more respected for his work as a coach.

Having spent time serving in the military and working as a PE teacher near Paris, he embarked on what would prove to be his vocation: coaching several generations of French pentathlete to reach the heights of the sport.

Initially he was based at the CREPS sports centre in Talence and later in Fontainebleau, educating and inspiring dozens of athletes – who paid fond tributes to Giudicelli in the wake of his passing.

In the words of the French Modern Pentathlon Federation (FFPM) President Joel Bouzou OLY, he was “eternally passionate and curious”, and “gave his time without restraint and made his athletes think that everything was possible through work, whatever their starting level”.