Pierre de Coubertin

Charles Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin (French: [ʃaʁl pjɛʁ də fʁedi baʁɔ̃ də kubɛʁtɛ̃]; born Pierre de Frédy; 1 January 1863 – 2 September 1937), also known as Pierre de Coubertin and Baron de Coubertin, was a French educator and historian, co-founder of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and its second president. He is known as the father of the modern Olympic Games. He was particularly active in promoting the introduction of sport in French schools.

Born into a French aristocratic family, Coubertin became an academic and studied a broad range of topics, most notably education and history. He graduated with a degree in law and public affairs from the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po). It was at the Paris Institute of Political Studies that he came up with the idea of reviving the Olympic Games.

The Pierre de Coubertin World Trophy and the Pierre de Coubertin Medal are named in his honour.

Early life

Pierre de Frédy was born in Paris on 1 January 1863, into an aristocratic family. He was the fourth child of Charles Louis de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin, and Marie-Marcelle Gigault de Crisenoy. Family tradition held that the Frédy name had originally arrived in France during the early 15th century, and the first recorded title of nobility granted to the family was given by Louis XI in 1477 to an ancestor, also named Pierre de Frédy, but other branches of his family tree delved even further into French history. The annals of both sides of his family included nobles of various stations, military leaders and associates of kings and princes of France.