Famous people from New Caledonia
Here is a list of famous people from New Caledonia. Curious if anybody from New Caledonia made it our most famous people in the world list? Read the aformentioned article in order to find out.
Christian Karembeu
Soccer
Christian Karembeu is a retired French international footballer and the current Strategic Advisor of Olympiacos F.C.. He is also part of a Paris-based consortium to expand the A-League with a Pacific Island team.
Frédéric Piquionne
Soccer Midfielder
Frédéric Piquionne is a French footballer who plays as a forward for Portland Timbers. His former clubs are Golden Star of Martinique, Nîmes Olympique, Rennes, AS Saint-Etienne, AS Monaco, Lyon, Portsmouth, West Ham United and Doncaster Rovers. He plays for Martinique at the international level and represented them in the run up to the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup and he was named in the 2012 Caribbean Cup squad. He also played once for France in a friendly against Austria in 2007.
Antoine Kombouaré
Soccer
Antoine Kombouaré is a football manager and a former professional football defender.
Francis Carco
Novelist
Francis Carco was a French author, born at Nouméa, New Caledonia. He was a poet, belonging to the Fantaisiste school, a novelist, a dramatist, and art critic for L'Homme libre and Gil Blas. During World War I he became aviation pilot at Étampes, after studying at the aviation school there. His works are picturesque, painting as they do the street life of Montmartre, and being written often in the argot of Paris. He has been called the "romancier des apaches." His memoir, The Last Bohemia: From Montmartre to the Latin Quarter, contains reminiscences of Bohemian life in Paris during the early years of the twentieth century. He had an affair with Katherine Mansfield in 1915. Carco held the ninth seat at Académie Goncourt from 1937–1958. He is buried in Cimetière de Bagneux. He was the author of: ⁕Instincts ⁕Jésus-la-Caille ⁕Les Innocents ⁕Au coin des rues ⁕Les Malheurs de Fernande ⁕Les Mystères de la Morgue ou les Fiancés du IVº arrondissement. Roman gai ⁕L'Equipe ⁕La Poésie ⁕Maman Petitdoigt ⁕Francis Carco, raconté par lui-meme
Colin Higgins
Screenwriter
Colin Higgins was an Australian-American screenwriter, actor, director, and producer. He was best known for writing the screenplay for the 1971 film Harold and Maude. and for directing the films Foul Play and 9 to 5. He is not to be confused with a British actor of the same name who is known to Star Wars trivia buffs as "Fake Wedge" and who died in December 2012.
Dimitri Pelo
Rugby Player
Dimitri Pelo is a French professional rugby league player for Canberra Raiders in the NRL He has previously played for Montpellier Herault RC after switching codes in 2010 & for the Catalans Dragons club of Europe's Super League competition. His usual position is Wing, but he can also play at Fullback.
Georges Gope-Fenepej
Footballer
Georges Gope-Fenepej is a New Caledonian footballer who plays as a striker for Troyes AC and the New Caledonia national team. He is the brother of fellow footballer John Gope-Fenepej.
Robert Chef d’Hôtel
Olympic athlete
Robert C. Chef d’Hotel was a track and field athlete from France, who competed mainly in the men's 400 metres during his career. He was born in Nouméa, Sud, New Caledonia. He competed for France at the 1948 Summer Olympics held in London, Great Britain where he won the silver medal in the men's 4 x 400 metre relay with his team mates Jean Kerebel, Francis Schewetta and Jacques Lunis.
Laurent Gané
Professional Cyclist
Laurent Gané is a French professional track cyclist. He was awarded the Vélo d'Or français, which is awarded by a panel of French journalists, in 1999 and 2003.</ref> Gané is also the cousin of cyclist Hervé Gané.
Gilles Pisier
Mathematician
Gilles I. Pisier is a Professor of Mathematics at the Pierre and Marie Curie University and a Distinguished Professor and A.G. and M.E. Owen Chair of Mathematics at the Texas A&M University. He is known for his contributions to several fields of mathematics, including functional analysis, probability theory, harmonic analysis, and operator theory. He has also made fundamental contributions to the theory of C*-algebras. Gilles is the younger brother of French actress Marie-France Pisier.
Roy Kayara
Footballer
Roy Kayara is a New Caledonian footballer who plays as a midfielder for AS Magenta in New Caledonia Division Honneur. He is a member of New Caledonia national football team. During pre season of the 2013/14 season Kayara was on trial with Sheffield United during their tour of Scotland. He made appearances against Cowdenbeath,Greenock Morton and Raith Rovers. During the Greenock Morton match Kayara but a ball over the top for Chris Poter however Porter failed to score from the effort. Kayara made second half appearances in matches agasint Cowdenbeath, Greenock Morton and Raith Rovers.
Diane Bui Duyet
Athlete
Diane Bui Duyet, sometimes spelled "Bui-Duyet", is a French/New Caledonian swimmer. Due to the New Caledonia's status as an overseas territory of France, Bui Duyet competes for New Caledonia in regional competitions and for France in continental and above competitions. Bui Duyet is the world record holder in the women's short course 100 meter butterfly with a time of 55.05 seconds. She set the record in the semi-finals of the 2009 European Short Course Swimming Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. She went on to get a silver medal in the finals with a time of 55.93 seconds. In April 2009, she set the French Record in the long-course 50m butterfly, following up on her December 2008 setting of the European Record in the short-course 100 fly. As of June 2009, she also holds the French Record in the short-course 50 fly
Lara Grangeon
Swimmer
Lara Grangeon is a French swimmer from the territory of New Caledonia who competes in the Women's 400m individual medley. At the 2012 Summer Olympics she finished 18th overall in the heats in the Women's 400 metre individual medley and failed to reach the final.
Jacques Zimako
Soccer
Jacques Zimako is a retired French professional footballer. Zimako played for SC Bastia, AS Saint-Étienne and FC Sochaux-Montbéliard. He capped 13 times for France, scoring 2 goals.
Christian Cévaër
Golfer
Christian Georges Cévaër is a French professional golfer. Cévaër was born in Nouméa, New Caledonia, attended Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California, and then took a golf scholarship at Stanford University in California, U.S., where he twice won the Pac-10 Championship. He also won the 1989 French Amateur Championship. He turned professional in 1993 and has spent his professional career playing mainly in Europe. Inconsistent form has necessitated several trips to the European Tour Qualifying School and he has had to split his time between the main tour and the developmental Challenge Tour. He has two European Tour titles, the 2004 Canarias Open de España and the European Open in 2009 and two Challenge Tour victories, the 1998 Volvo Finnish Open and the 2000 Finnish Masters. His best year-end ranking on the Order of Merit has been 41st in 2004.
Harold Martin
Politician
Harold Martin is a New Caledonian politician, President of the Government of New Caledonia and, since May 22, 2009, President of the Congress of New Caledonia. Former student as a site manager in the ESTP, Martin replaced Marie-Noëlle Thémereau as the leader of the ruling Future Together party after the party suffered an electoral setback to choose the territory’s two members of the French assembly. Coming from one of the oldest families of European origin, Martin is descended from a nephew of James Paddon, the British adventurer widely credited as having been the first European settler on the island, before the French annexation in 1853. Further, he directs an agricultural society. Thus, he has been president of the Council on the Regulation and Establishment of Agricultural Prices in 1991, 1993, and from 1994 to 1995.
Bertrand Kaï
Footballer
Bertrand Kaï is an association footballer from New Caledonia. Bertrand operates as a forward and currently plays for Hienghène Sport and the New Caledonia national football team. He is one of only two New Caledonians to be named Oceania Footballer of the Year.
Jacques Lafleur
Politician
Jacques Lafleur was a French politician born in Nouméa, New Caledonia. Lafleur was a onetime leader of one of the two anti-independence parties in New Caledonia, the RPCR. He was a signatory to the Matignon Accords in 1988 and the Nouméa Accord in 1998. He was elected deputy on 16 June 2002, for the 12th session of the legislature, representing the 1st district in New Caledonia, but lost his hold on power as a result of the elections of 9 May 2004, which propelled a new party, named "Future Together", into control of government in South Province.
Maurice Ponga
Man
Maurice Ponga is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament elected in the 2009 European election for the Overseas constituency. Ponga is a Melanesian, but unlike most Kanaks, he opposes New Caledonia's independence from France and is a member of The Rally-UMP, a major anti-independence party. He has represented the party, known as RPCR until 2002, in the Congress of New Caledonia between 1995 and 2009. While in office, he participated in all but one New Caledonian government. Most recently, as Minister of Youth and Sports in the Martin II government, he played a major role in the success of Noumea's bid for the 2011 Pacific Games. In the 2009 European elections, he was the UMP's candidate in the Pacific Section of the Overseas constituency, and his candidacy was locally supported by all anti-independence parties. The UMP won one seat in the constituency with 29.7% of the votes, and since the UMP obtained its highest result in the Pacific Section, Ponga was elected to the European Parliament. He is the second New Caledonian and second Kanak to serve as an MEP, after Dick Ukeiwé, who served between 1989 and 1994.
Marius Bako
Footballer
Marius Bako in New Caledonia is a footballer who plays as a Midfielder. He has previously played for AS Magenta however he currently plays for Gaïtcha FCN in the New Caledonia Division Honneur and the New Caledonia national football team.
Benjamin Longue
Soccer Defender
Benjamin Longue in Nouméa, New Caledonia is a footballer who plays as a Defender. He currently plays for AS Magenta in the New Caledonia Division Honneur and the New Caledonia national football team.
Pierre Frogier
Politician
Pierre Frogier is a French politician, who was President of the Government of New Caledonia from 2001 to 2004. He is french senator for New Caledonia since 2011, and was member of the National Assembly of France from 1996 to 2011. He was born in Nouméa. He was elected President of that collectivity by the territorial Congress on April 5, 2001, reelected in November 2002 when the government collapsed following the resignation of a minister, and left office on June 10, 2004, when a new government was elected after his party, the anti-independence The Rally–UMP, lost parliamentary elections. When the new government collapsed, Frogier ran for president in elections two weeks later, on June 24, 2004, in which he was defeated, received 4 of the 11 votes in Congress.
César Lolohea
Footballer
César Lolohea in New Caledonia is a footballer who plays as a Midfielder. He has played for AS Lito, AS Le Mont-Dore and AS Magenta in the New Caledonia Division Honneur. He currently plays for Stade Lavallois B in the CFA2 groupe H and the New Caledonia national football team.
Jacques Haeko
Footballer
Jacques Haeko is a New Caledonian footballer who plays as a striker for AS Lössi in the New Caledonia Division Honneur.
Michel Hmaé
Soccer Forward
Michel Hmaé is a footballer who used to play for AS Magenta in the New Caledonian football league. He has been playing as a striker for the Noumea outfit since 2003/2004. On January 2010, he signed for AS Mont-Dore. Hmaé is regular in the New Caledonia national football team. At international level, Michel Hmaé scored 6 goals in the Oceania Nations Cup 2004, including 5 against the Cook Islands. In the South Pacific Games in 2003, he scored 4 goals against Micronesia.
John Gope-Fenepej
Soccer
John Gope-Fenepej is a New Caledonian former professional footballer, mainly playing in defence. He is the brother New Caledonian international footballer Georges Gope-Fenepej. Gope-Fenepej played for FC Nantes before briefly joining Bolton Wanderers on loan, under Sam Allardyce. He later moved to Créteil.
Jean-Paul Lakafia
Athlete
Jean-Paul Lakafia is a retired male javelin thrower from France. He competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, finishing in 12th place. He set his personal best in 1985.
Jonathan Kakou
Soccer Midfielder
Jonathan Kakou is a New Caledonian soccer player who plays for AS Magenta.
Pierre Wajoka
Soccer Forward
Pierre Wajoka is a New Caledonian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Gaïtcha FCN. He played one year for AS Lössi, the club representing his custom area. In 2011, he moved to Gaïtcha FCN. He is known for scoring the first ever goal in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification process against Tahiti on August 25, 2007. He was part of the team which won the 2007 South Pacific Games. He also participated in the 2003 South Pacific Games, where New Caledonia won their group and reached the final of the competition, but were defeated by Fiji. On occasion, commentators on the sport, have cited him as the world's best footballing talent.
Emile Mercier
Author
Emile Mercier was an Australian cartoonist.
Arnjolt Beer
Man
Arnjolt Beer is a retired French shot putter. He was born in Koumac in New Caledonia, and represented the club Stade Français. He represented France at the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games, where he did not reach the final. He won the silver medal at the 1967 Mediterranean Games, finished sixth at the 1968 European Indoor Games, eighth at the 1970 European Indoor Championships, thirteenth at the 1971 European Indoor Championships, tenth at the 1972 European Indoor Championships, tenth at the 1976 European Indoor Championships, and twelfth at the 1981 European Indoor Championships. He became French champion in 1968, 1971, 1978 and 1980, and French indoor champion in 1975, 1977, 1978 and 1979. At the South Pacific Games Beer won the shot put in 1966, 1969, 1971, 1975 and 1983. He set a championship record with 18.07 metres in 1971, and equalled it in 1975. It withstood later competitions. Also, in the discus throw he won gold medals in 1969, 1971 and 1975 and silver medals in 1966 and 1983. Here, too, he set a championship record of 50.22 metres in 1969, but it was erased by French Polynesian Jean-Claude Duhaze in 1979. In the hammer throw Beer won a silver medal in 1975 and bronze medals in 1969 and 1971.
Dick Kauma
Soccer
Dick Kauma is a New Caledonian soccer player.
Paul Néaoutyine
Man
Paul Néaoutyine is a New Caledonian politician. A Kanak of the Saint-Michel tribe, he has been president of the North Province of New Caledonia since 1999. He is a supporter of New Caledonian independence.
William Gemmill
Cricket Player
William Neilson Gemmill was a Welsh cricketer. Gemmill was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm medium-fast. He was born in Thio on the French Pacific island of New Caledonia. Gemmill made his debut for Glamorgan when the Welsh county was still a Minor county, making his first appearance for the county against Cheshire in the 1920 Minor Counties Championship. He played a further match for the county that season, against Devon. After the 1920 season, Glamorgan were given first-class status for the 1921 season. It was in this season that Gemmill made his first-class debut in the County Championship against Leicestershire. He played first-class cricket for Glamorgan from 1921 to 1926, making 47 first-class appearances. In his 47 first-class matches for Glamorgan, he scored 1,169 runs at an average of 13.59, with a high score of 77. This score, one of four fifties he scored for Glamorgan, came against Sussex in the 1922 County Championship. He also made a single first-class appearance for Wales in 1923 against Scotland. In this match, he scored 74 runs in the Welsh first-innings, before being dismissed by John Fergusson, with Wales winning by an innings and 111 runs.
Dick Ukeiwé
Man
Dick Ukeiwé was a New Caledonian politician. Born in Lifou, France, he represented the island in the French Senate from 1983 until 1992, and was a member of the Rally for the Republic. His son, Bernard Ukeiwé, was also a New Caledonian politician. Dick died, aged 84, on 3 September 2013 in Dumbéa. He is survived by four children.
Laurent Simutoga
Athlete
Laurent Simutoga is a French rugby union prop. He plays for La Rochelle in the French Top 14. He attended Lindisfarne College in New Zealand from 2005 to 2006. He played for Hawke's Bay Academy before moving to France, He also represented Hawke's Bay in the U-18 and U-20 age group. He was one of the first Wallis and Futuna players to play in New Zealand.
Ramon Djamali
Soccer Forward
Ramon Djamali is a footballer who currently plays for AS Mont-Dore in the New Caledonian football league. He has been playing as a striker. He has also played in the Tahitian league for AS Manu Ura. He made celebrated his debut for the New Caledonia national football team in a South Pacific Games match against Papua New Guinea with a goal and scored two more in the tournament.
Pascal Vittori
Man
Pascal Vittori is a New Caledonian politician. He is a member of the Future Together party, of which he serves as secretary. Since 2008, he has served as the New Centre's representative in New Caledonia. In 2004 he replaced Marie-Noëlle Thémereau in the Congress of New Caledonia.
Philip Schyle
Politician
Philip Schyle is a French Polynesian politician and a member of the O Porinetia To Tatou Ai'a political party. He is also president of the Fetia Api political party. Schyle became the President of the Assembly of French Polynesia on April 9, 2009. Schyle was elected Speaker of the French Polynesia Assmebly on Thursday, April 9, 2009. He defeated incumbent Speaker Edouard Fritch. Schyle received 40 votes, while Fritch obatined just 14 votes in the election. There were two blank ballots and one member did not participate in the election. Schyle was immediately sworn in as Speaker following his victory. Schyle had previously served as Assembly speaker for a period in 2006.
Jean-Claude Briault
Man
Jean-Claude Briault is a New Caledonian politician. He has served in the Congress of New Caledonia as a member of The Rally-UMP.
Iamel Kabeu
Footballer
Iamel Kabeu in New Caledonia is a footballer who plays as a Forward. He has previously played for JS Baco in the New Caledonia Division Honneur. He currently plays for AS Manu-Ura in the Tahiti Division Fédérale and the New Caledonia national football team.
Rocky Nyikeine
Soccer Goalkeeper
Rocky Nyikeine is an international footballer for New Caledonia as a goalkeeper. He played in the 2012 OFC Nations Cup.
Joël Wakanumuné
Soccer Midfielder
Joël Wakanumuné is a New Caledonian soccer player. The midfielder has six caps along with one goal, and plays for SO Chambéry Foot, in France. SO Chambéry plays in CFA 2 Group D, which is an amateur league and is at the fifth level in the French football league system, which leads up to Ligue 1. Wakanumuné represented New Caledonia in ten qualifying matches for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, including the 2012 OFC Nations Cup. He also appeared in the OFC Nations Cup final, in which New Caledonia lost 1-0 to Tahiti.
Julien Foret
Golfer
Julien Foret is a French professional golfer.
Kalaje Gnipate
Soccer
Kalaje Gnipate is an international footballer for New Caledonia. He played in the 2012 OFC Nations Cup.
Dominique Wacalie
Soccer Midfielder
Dominique Wacalie is a New Caledonian soccer player who plays for Sud Nivernais Imphy Decize.
Yohann Mercier
Soccer Defender
Yohann Laurent Mercier is a footballer from New Caledonia. He plays as a Defence and has played football with ACB Poya since 2007. He previously played for JS Baco.
André Sinédo
Soccer Defender
André Sinédo in New Caledonia is a footballer who plays as a Defender. He currently plays for AS Magenta in the New Caledonia Division Honneur and the New Caledonia national football team.
Emile Béaruné
Soccer Defender
Emile Béaruné in New Caledonia is a footballer who plays as a Defender. He currently plays for Gaïtcha FCN in the New Caledonia Division Honneur and the New Caledonia national football team.
Pierre-Henri Soero
Golfer
Vincent Taua
Soccer
Vincent Taua is a New Caledonian soccer player who plays for Teramo Calcio.
Jean-Patrick Wakanumuné
Soccer Defender
Jean-Patrick Wakanumuné in New Caledonia is a footballer who plays as a Defender. He currently plays for in the New Caledonia Division Honneur and the New Caledonia national football team.
Joris Gorendiawé
Soccer Midfielder
Joris Gorendiawé in New Caledonia is a footballer who plays as a Midfielder. He currently plays for AS Magenta in the New Caledonia Division Honneur and the New Caledonia national football team.
Patrick Diaike
Soccer Midfielder
Patrick Holen Diaiké is a footballer who has played for the New Caledonia national team.
Olivier Dokunengo
Soccer Midfielder
Olivier Dokunengo is a New Caledonian soccer player who plays for AS Mont-Dore.
Michel Hne
Soccer Goalkeeper
Michel Hne is a footballer who currently plays for FCN Gaitcha in the New Caledonian football league. He has been playing as a goalkeeper, He currently plays for the New Caledonia national football team
Miguel Kayara
Soccer Midfielder
Miguel Kayara is a New Caledonian soccer player.
Marc Ounemoa
Soccer
Marc Ounemoa is a New Caledonian soccer player.
Jean-Yann Dounezek
Soccer
Jean-Yann Dounezek is a New Caledonian soccer player who plays for AS Magenta.
Dominique Sawa
Soccer Defender
Dominique Sawa is a New Caledonian soccer player who plays for AS Mont-Dore.
Pierre Nyikeine
Soccer Defender
Pierre Nyikeine is a New Caledonian football player.
Georges Béaruné
Soccer Defender
Georges Béaruné is a New Caledonian soccer player who plays for Gaïtcha FCN.
Jean-Paul Read
Soccer Defender
Jean-Paul Read is a New Caledonian soccer player who plays for AS Magenta.
Noël Kaudré
Soccer Midfielder
Noël Kaudré is a New Caledonian soccer player who plays for AS Magenta.
Luther Wahnyamalla
Soccer Midfielder
Luther Wahnyamalla is a New Caledonian football player.
Steeve Ixoee
Soccer
Steeve Ixoee is a New Caledonian football player.
Jeremie Dokunengo
Soccer Defender