PARIS—Vuarnet announced in a statement that legendary skier, Jean Vuarnet, who gave his name to the eyewear brand, passed away at the age of 83.

During a meeting with the French optician, Roger Pouilloux, in 1959, Vuarnet was fitted with a pair of the 02 sunglass model as a token of admiration. These frames featured Skilynx mineral glass lenses which highlight contrast and enhance depth perception in downhill skiing. The following year at the 1960 Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley in California, Vuarnet won the gold medal in downhill skiing.

Following this victory, Vuarnet and Pouilloux joined together to create a brand that embodied innovation, high performance and French elegance, launching Vuarnet Eyewear.

“A brilliant business man, he launched Vuarnet and always promoted its international reputation as a brand that has become the absolute benchmark in sunglasses thanks to the unsurpassed quality of its glass lenses,” the company said. “It is with great passion and determination that we will carry on his dream.”