5 sources · updated 24 Oct 2026
Born in Liège in 1942, Michel Malinovsky became a French sailor. He excelled in the Solitaire du Figaro: second in 1970, winner in 1971 aboard Rousslane, third in 1972 and 1977, fourth in 1974.
In 1978, aboard Kriter V, he finished second in the first Route du Rhum, only 98 seconds behind Mike Birch after twenty-three days of racing. The phrase "Seule la victoire est jolie" remained associated with him and is the title of a book written with Jean Noli.
He later took part in the 1981 Twostar (eleventh on Kriter VIII) and the 1982 Route du Rhum (tenth on Kriter VIII). He died in Nantes in 2010.
