Thomas Fanara

Thomas Fanara (born 24 April 1981) is a former French World Cup alpine ski racer.

Born in Annecy, Haute-Savoie, Fanara specialised in giant slalom; his only win came in March 2016 at the giant slalom finals in St. Moritz, Switzerland. He is the oldest racer to reach a World Cup podium in giant slalom, and competed for France at three Winter Olympics and six World Championships. He retired from competition at the end of the 2018–19 season. For some time he held the record for most World Cup podium finishes without a win until his victory at the World Cup finals in St. Moritz in 2016. In December 2007, he fell and hurt himself in the second run after winning the first run of a race in Bad Kleinkirchheim, but finished. Two years later in December 2009, Fanara incurred a season-ending injury to his left knee after a spectacular fall during a race in Beaver Creek, two months before the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Following his World Cup win in St. Moritz, Fanara suffered an injury which kept him out of competition for the 2016–17 season. However, he subsequently made a successful return, taking a number of podium finished in his final season. Fanara participated in the team event in 2011 at Garmisch and earned a gold medal.

Year Age Slalom Giant slalom Super-G Downhill Combined 2007 25 — 16 — — — 2009 27 — DNF1 — — — 2011 29 — 6 — — — 2013 31 — DNF1 — — — 2015 33 — DNF1 — — — 2017 35 2019 37 — DNF2 — — —

Olympics At the Winter Olympics, Fanara did not finish the first run of the giant slalom in 2006 and was injured two months prior the 2010 Games and did not compete.

Year Age Slalom Giant slalom Super-G Downhill Combined 2006 24 — DNF1 — — — 2010 28 injured, did not compete 2014 32 — 9 — — — 2018 36 — 5 — — —

National championships Fanara reached the podium of French national championships four times, all in giant slalom. In 2005 he was third; in 2006 he was second; and he won in 2007 and 2009.