Jean-François Lamour (born 2 February 1956, Paris) is a former French fencer and current French politician and cabinet minister. As a fencer, Lamour has made multiple athletic achievements, the most note-worthy being making world championship in 1987. He won one bronze, two silver, and two gold medals in sabre Olympic events between 1984 and 1988. Retiring, he entered politics serving as the sports and youth counsellor to the Mayor of Paris from 1993 to 1995. In 2002, he became the minister of sport, and in 2004, he was given responsibility for youth in addition to this. He's married to Dr. Isabelle Spennato, a former French fencer and current president of the French Fencing Federation. Athletic career Lamour started learning fencing at eight years old, his first success coming later in 1971, when he was 15 years old. That year, he won the French junior championship in sabre fencing. 4 years later, Lamour reached semifinals at the 1975 World Championship in Bucharest. He went on to set a national record, winning the Champion of France title 13 times between 1977 and 1992. In the 1980s, Lamour returned empty-handed from the Olympic Games in Moscow. He was the only member of the French team to return home without a medal. In 1983, Lamour returned again to the World Championship -this time in Vienna - and placed fifth. In Lausanne in 1987, he became World Champion. He began training under new coach László Szepesi, who came from Hungary to head the French national team. Lamour won gold at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Days later, he fenced in the team tournament that saw France win an Olympic silver medal. In 1988, Lamour was awarded the Master of Saber prize. Several months later, he won a second Olympic gold medal in Seoul. He was appointed France's Minister of Sports in 2002. References External links "For Future of Fencing" International Charity Fund website 1956 births Living people Fencers from Paris French male sabre fencers Olympic fencers of France Fencers at the 1980 Summer Olympics Fencers at the 1984 Summer Olympics Fencers at the 1988 Summer Olympics Fencers at the 1992 Summer Olympics Olympic gold medalists for France Olympic silver medalists for France Olympic bronze medalists for France Olympic medalists in fencing Medalists at the 1984 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1988 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1992 Summer Olympics Deputies of the 13th