Erwin THALER

Erwin Thaler was one of the top early pilots of Austrian bobsledding. He won his first international medal at the 1963 World Championships in four-man, with Josef Nairz, Adolf Koxeder, and Reinhold Durnthaler riding behind him. In 1964 the same team placed second at the Innsbruck Winter Olympics, with Thaler and Nairz placing eighth in the two-man. From 1965-67 Thaler won three consecutive European Championships in the two-man, the first two with Adolf Koxeder as brakeman, and the last with Durnthaler in second seat. In 1967 Thaler and Durnthaler also won the World Championships. Thaler repeated as silver medalist in the four-man at the 1968 Winter Olympics, placing second in two-man with Durnthaler, but Thaler and Durnthaler again won the 1969 European title in the two-man. In 1996 Thaler was awarded a Silver Medal for Meritorious Services to the Austrian Republic.