Alexandre Bilodeau facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Alexandre Bilodeau

Alpine skier
Bilodeau in 2010
Born	(1987-09-08) September 8, 1987 (age 37) Montreal, Quebec
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
World Cup debut	December 14, 2005 (age 18)
Website	Official site: https://www.alexbilodeau.ca/en-ca
Olympics
Teams	3 (2006–2014)
Medals	2 (2 gold)
World Championships
Teams	4 (2007–2013)
Medals	5 (3 gold)
World Cup
Seasons	9 (2006–2014)
Wins	19
Podiums	48
Overall titles	1 (2009)
Discipline titles	1: moguls (2009)
Medal record International freestyle ski competitions Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 2 0 0 World Championships 3 2 0 Total 5 2 0 Men's freestyle skiing Representing  Canada Olympic Games Gold 2010 Vancouver Moguls Gold 2014 Sochi Moguls World Championships Gold 2009 Inawashiro Dual moguls Gold 2011 Deer Valley Dual moguls Gold 2013 Voss Dual moguls Silver 2011 Deer Valley Moguls Silver 2013 Voss Moguls

Alexandre Bilodeau (born September 8, 1987) is a retired Canadian freestyle skier from Quebec. He is famous for winning two Olympic gold medals in mogul skiing. Mogul skiing is a thrilling sport where skiers race down a steep, bumpy slope and perform two aerial tricks.

At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Bilodeau made history. He became the first Canadian athlete ever to win a gold medal at an Olympics held in Canada. Four years later, at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, he won gold again. This made him the first freestyle skier in history to win the same event twice in a row.

Besides his Olympic success, Bilodeau was a three-time world champion in dual moguls. Dual moguls is a race where two skiers compete side-by-side. He also won the overall FIS World Cup title in 2009, proving he was the best freestyle skier in the world that season. He retired in 2014 as one of Canada's most celebrated winter athletes.

Skiing Career

Alexandre Bilodeau showed amazing talent from a young age. In 2006, at just 18 years old, he competed in his first Winter Olympics. That same year, he became the youngest skier ever to win a World Cup moguls event. He was named the FIS "Rookie of the Year."

By 2009, he was at the top of his sport. In February of that year, he won four World Cup events in a row. He and his Canadian teammates often swept the podium, taking first, second, and third place. His incredible season earned him the 2009 overall moguls title. At the World Championships that year, he won a gold medal in dual moguls.

2010 Vancouver Olympics

Alexandre Bilodeau with his 2010 Winter Olympics gold medal.

Going into the 2010 Winter Olympics in his home country, Bilodeau was a top contender. On February 14, he skied a fantastic final run. He performed a difficult "back double full" jump and a "back iron cross" jump. His speed, style, and tricks earned him a score of 26.75, enough for the gold medal.

His victory was a huge moment for Canada. No Canadian had ever won a gold medal on home soil before. People across the country celebrated. In downtown Vancouver, huge crowds waved Canadian flags and sang the national anthem.

After his win, Bilodeau showed his generous spirit. He and fellow skier Jennifer Heil each donated $25,000 to charity. Bilodeau gave his money to help children with cerebral palsy, a condition that affects his older brother.

Rivalry with Mikaël Kingsbury

After the 2010 Olympics, a new star emerged in mogul skiing: fellow Canadian Mikaël Kingsbury. This started a friendly but intense rivalry between the two teammates.

At the 2011 World Championships, Bilodeau won silver in the moguls event, right behind Kingsbury. But in the dual moguls final, Bilodeau faced Kingsbury head-to-head and won, defending his world title.

Bilodeau decided that the 2014 Olympics would be his last competition. He took some time off from skiing to study accounting at Concordia University. He knew defending his Olympic title would be a great challenge, especially with Kingsbury skiing so well.

At the 2013 World Championships, Kingsbury won the moguls event, with Bilodeau taking silver. But once again, in the dual moguls final, Bilodeau defeated Kingsbury to win his third straight world title in that event.

2014 Sochi Olympics

The rivalry between Bilodeau and Kingsbury was the main story leading up to the 2014 Winter Olympics. The two Canadians were the best in the world, often finishing first and second in competitions.

In the Olympic final in Sochi, both skiers were at their best. Kingsbury made a few small mistakes in his final run. Bilodeau skied a nearly perfect run and won the gold medal, with Kingsbury taking silver.

With this victory, Bilodeau became the first male Canadian athlete to defend an individual Olympic gold medal. He was also the first freestyle skier ever to win back-to-back Olympic titles.

Retirement and Honours

On March 21, 2014, Alexandre Bilodeau announced his retirement from competitive skiing. He ended his career with a win in his final World Cup race.

For his amazing achievements, Bilodeau has received many honours.

• In 2012, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
• In 2017, he received the Medal of Honour from the National Assembly of Quebec.
• In 2019, he was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.

Personal Life

Bilodeau was inspired to achieve great things by his older brother, Frédéric. Frédéric was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a child and was told he would not be able to walk by age 12. However, Frédéric proved doctors wrong and continues to be a huge inspiration for Alexandre.

As a kid, Bilodeau loved playing hockey. He switched to skiing after watching Canadian Jean-Luc Brassard win a gold medal in moguls at the 1994 Winter Olympics. At age seven, he decided to focus on skiing.

Bilodeau is fluent in both French and English. After retiring from skiing, he began a new career as an accountant.

Major Competition Results

Olympic Games

World Championships

See also

In Spanish: Alexandre Bilodeau para niños