Franz Klammer
Franz Klammer
Franz Klammer (born 3 December 1953) is a former Austrian alpine ski racer. He competed during the 1970s and 1980s, specializing in the downhill and combined events. He is considered one of the greatest alpine skiers of all time, and his aggressive, risk-taking style earned him the nickname "The Klammer Express."
Klammer was born in Mooswald, Carinthia, Austria. He began skiing at a young age, and by the age of 16, he was competing in international races. He made his World Cup debut in 1971, and he won his first race in 1972. Over the next few years, he became one of the top downhill skiers in the world, winning multiple World Cup races and the overall downhill title in 1975 and 1976.
Klammer's greatest moment came at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. He was the favorite to win the downhill, and he did not disappoint. He skied an incredible run, beating the second-place finisher by more than a full second. Klammer's victory was a major highlight of the Games, and it made him a national hero in Austria.
Klammer continued to compete at a high level for the rest of the 1970s and into the early 1980s. He won the World Cup downhill title again in 1978 and 1983, and he also won two medals at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York (silver in the downhill and bronze in the combined). He retired from competition in 1985.
Klammer's accomplishments have earned him a place among the greatest alpine skiers of all time. He was named to the FIS Ski Hall of Fame in 1992, and he was awarded the FIS Medal of Honor in 2013. He is also a member of the Austrian Sports Hall of Fame.
Today, Klammer is a successful businessman and motivational speaker. He also works as a television commentator for alpine ski races. He lives in Austria with his wife and three children.
Career highlights
- Olympic gold medal in downhill (1976)
- Olympic silver medal in downhill (1980)
- Olympic bronze medal in combined (1980)
- World Cup overall downhill title (1975, 1976, 1978, 1983)
- 26 World Cup downhill victories
- FIS Ski Hall of Fame (1992)
- FIS Medal of Honor (2013)
- Member of the Austrian Sports Hall of Fame
