Killy says “time to quit”

Jean-Claude Killy has always been my ski hero and role model. I've followed his career since the French National Championships in Morzine, back in 1961 through the mid 80 when I worked closely with him on a Lange project and thought incredibly highly of him; in fact my whole career in America hinges, in large part, on Killy's ski success.

Then “Toutoune” went on to work on a number of sport marketing endeavors, including the 1992 Winter Olympic and became a member of the IOC. I don't think much of this organization, but this is just a matter of personal opinion. This week, Killy had the courage to quit that position and, hopefully, re-invent himself one more time. 

Too bad that he also stressed his admiration for Vladimir Putin, the tyrant-oligarch, but as some have said, this is merely an endorsement and in the sport marketing business, certain endorsements are better than others; some can backfire or badly stain one's reputation. Hopefully (?) the payoff will have been well-worth the damage sustained to Killy's pristine Olympic image!