Rosi MITTERMAIER

Rosi Mittermaier had never won a downhill race until she became a double Olympic champion in Innsbruck.

Unheralded veteran

Leading up to the 1976 Innsbruck Winter Games, Rosi Mittermaier was not one of the favourites to contest the medals. For although she was a downhill veteran who had competed on the World Cup circuit for ten years, she had never won a major downhill race.

Gold rush

Her luck changed dramatically in Innsbruck. Mittermaier won the downhill by half a second to claim her first gold medal. Three days later she won the slalom event by a third of a second and was suddenly a double Olympic champion!

Treble chance

The giant slalom was contested two days later and Mittermaier had the chance to become the first woman to sweep all three Alpine events. Unfortunately on the final run, Mittermaier made a mistake at one of the lower gates which cost her valuable time. Even so, she still managed to come second and won her third medal of the Games.