St. Moritz 1948

“Games of Renewal”

After a 12-year break caused by World War II, these Games were named the "Games of Renewal”.

Evenly Contested

Medal success was evenly divided. Although 22 events were contested, only French Alpine skier Henri Oreiller and Nordic skier Martin Lundström from Sweden won more than one gold medal each. The U.S. won its first gold medals in figure skating.

Skeleton Returns

As with the 1928 Games, which had also taken place in St. Moritz, the discipline of skeleton was once again included on the programme. It would not reappear again until 54 years later at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

French First

Henri Oreiller won two Olympic titles. The skier from Val d'Isère won both the downhill and the combined, becoming the first Frenchman to win Olympic Winter titles.

NOCs: 28

Athletes: 669 (77 women, 592 men)

Events: 22

Volunteers: N/A

Media: N/A

First Gold Medal for an American Skier

Competing in the slalom, Gretchen Fraser (USA-Alpine skiing) recorded the fastest time in the first round. As she prepared to lead off the second round, a problem developed in the telephone timing system. Despite a 17-minute delay at such a critical time, she skied fast enough to earn the gold medal: the first ever by an American skier.