A nude photo session involving an Olympic skier, who is married to a former Premier League footballer, triggered a wave of national anger in her native country.
The wife of ex-footballer Christian Karembeu found herself at the heart of a fierce public backlash following the publication of nude photographs.
Karembeu, who turned 55 last Wednesday (December 3), boasts an impressive career history, including 53 international appearances for France and a three-year stint at Spanish giants Real Madrid. His spell in English football was relatively brief, limited to a single season with Middlesbrough.
His sporting interests extend off the pitch; in May 2017, the former defensive midfielder married Lebanese Olympic alpine skier Jackie Chamoun. The pair shared news of their daughter's birth in September of that same year.
Nevertheless, ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics, the 34-year-old athlete caused a deep split in public opinion back home. This followed the online circulation of several suggestive pictures, one of which showed her wearing only skis on her lower body. Notably, Chamoun had also participated in a nude calendar shoot three years before these second Olympic Games.
Jackie Chamoun apologised for the snaps which were leaked
In a video from the shoot, she was heard laughing off her inexperience with nude modeling. However, the unauthorized leak of the images proved serious, escalating to the level of Lebanese government intervention.
Authorities stated that the footage had harmed the nation's "reputation." Chamoun responded by posting an apology on Facebook, explaining that the disseminated images were not the final approved versions and were never intended for public release.
Chamoun, a specialist in alpine skiing, embarked on her training journey as a child and was already competing in slalom and giant slalom disciplines by age 14.
Her Olympic debut came at 18 during the slalom event at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games, where she ultimately placed 54th.
Christian Karembeu married Jackie Chamoun back in May of 2017
In the lead-up to the 2014 Olympics, she addressed the controversy: "The video and photos currently circulating were taken as part of a preparatory process. They were not meant for public viewing."
She continued, "I sincerely apologize to everyone. I am aware that Lebanon is a conservative nation, and this content does not represent our cultural values."
"Now that I am here at the Olympic Games... My only request to anyone who has seen this material is to please stop sharing it. This would genuinely allow me to concentrate on what truly matters at this moment: my training and my competition."
She eventually finished 47th in the slalom at those Games. During this difficult period, a show of support emerged in the form of a protest campaign named 'Strip for Jackie'.
