Friederike SCHWINGL

Fritzi Schwingl was the rare canoeist who excelled both in flatwater sprint canoeing and slalom racing. She was the 1953 World Champion in kayak slalom, after winning silver medals at the Worlds in 1949 and 1951. At the flatwater World Championships, Schwingl won silver medals in the 1950 K2 and 1954 K1, and bronze medals in the 1948 K2 and 1950 K1. To this she added her 1948 Olympic bronze. Schwingl was a 33-time national champion in Austria. In 1954 she was named Austrian Sportswoman of the Year. In 1992 Schwingl was given the Golden Decoration of Honor for services to the Republic of Austria.