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.