Jean-Louis Étienne

Jean-Louis Étienne (born 9 December 1946) is a French doctor, explorer and scientist. He is well known for his Arctic explorations, where he was the first man to reach the North Pole alone in 1986, and his Antarctic explorations, including the famous 1990 International Trans-Antarctica Expedition.

Jean-Louis Étienne was born in Vielmur-sur-Agout in the department of Tarn. He studied at the technical high school of Mazamet where he graduated with a CAP (Certificat d'Aptitude Professionnelle) in machining, then his technical high school graduation in Castres, and at the Faculté de Médecine of the Paul Sabatier University of Toulouse.

He obtained a doctorate in general medicine graduated with a DESS (Diplôme d'Études Supérieures Spécialisées) in Dietetics and food, as well as a diploma in biology and sports medicine. Jean-Louis Étienne is also a licensed doctor of the Merchant navy.

Jean-Louis Étienne got interested in medical matters and human psychology in extreme conditions. In order to further his research, he participated in several expeditions in Himalaya (Broad Peak and North of Mount Everest), Greenland and Patagonia. He was a teammate on the Pen Duick VI under Éric Tabarly for its race around the world in 1977–78.

He is well known for his expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctica, with scientific as well as pedagogical goals, which attracted media coverage, disseminating knowledge and research, and promoting protection of the environment. He became famous with the feat of the 1990 International Trans-Antarctica Expedition, a 6,300 km crossing on foot, with dogs, of the Austral continent.

In 2007 and 2008, Jean-Louis Étienne was the general director of the Institut océanographique de Paris and the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco.

Jean-Louis Étienne was named Officer of the Legion of Honour in 2007, after being named Chevalier, then Commander in 2016 and Grand Officer in 2020. He was also named Chevalier of the National Order of Merit in 1991 and Chevalier of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques. He received the gold medal from the Société de géographie and is a member of the French Academy of Technologies. He also received two prizes from the French Academy of Sports in 1990 for his scientific and sport achievements.