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Michel AlauxMaitre Michel Alaux (1924 – December 30, 1974) was a French-American fencer who co-coached the United States' Olympic fencing teams in 1964, 1968, and 1972.[1] Internationally recognized for his achievements in the sport and his regular contributions to fencing publications, he has been credited with developing a holistic approach to fencing that helped to bridge the gap between classical schools and the modern Olympic fencing style.[2][3] BiographyEarly life and careerMichel Alaux graduated from the military college Fort Carré d'Antibes in 1947 and established himself in his club, L'Association Jean Louis in Montpellier, France.[2][4][5] There, he trained a number of foil and épée pupils, the most well-known being Christian D'Oriola, named Fencer of the 20th Century by the International Fencing Federation (FIE).[6][7][8] At the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, Christian d'Oriola won two gold medals for individual and team foil, winning all ten bouts in the team events.[2][9][10] Alaux was also awarded two Medals of Honor by the French Government's Ministry of Sports in recognition of his contribution to fencing: Bronze, in 1949, for the World Championships, followed by gold, in 1952, for the Helsinki Olympics.[11][2][12] Career in the United StatesIn 1956, Alaux was invited to the United States by the NY Fencers Club. He served three times as US Fencing Olympic coach: 1964 Summer Olympics, Tokyo; 1968 Summer Olympics, Mexico City; 1972 Summer Olympics, Munich; and several times as the US Nationals, Pan American, and World Championship coach.[13] He remained head fencing master of the NY Fencers Club until his death in 1974, at the age of fifty.[12][14] Among his notable students were 2x Olympian Herb Cohen, Olympian Jeffrey Checkes, Olympian James Melcher, Olympian John Nonna, Olympian Ruth White, and Neal Cohen.[15] In the course of his US fencing career, Alaux played a key role in developing American fencing official standards and professional requirements.[3] He chaired the 1962–63 U.S. Committee which developed A Text for Defining Fencing Terms.[2] He chaired and directed the committee which devised the official examination for the first professional diploma of Fencing Master in the US (1965).[16] He served as a fencing consultant to TV, newspapers & magazines.[17][2] For his contributions to sports education and culture, he was inducted into l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques in 1962. Career as an authorHe was a contributor to US, UK, and French fencing journals.[18] He is the author of Modern Fencing (Charles Scribner's Sons New York. 1975. ISBN 0684141167). LegacyFollowing his death in 1974, twelve annual US Grand Open competitions (1975–1987) were named after him: The Michel Alaux Grand Open was a three-day international event "considered essentially the same as the Nationals."[19] He was inducted into the US Fencing Hall of Fame in 2006.[20] See alsoFootnotes and references
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