Oswald HASELRIEDER

Oswald Haselrieder began international sliding in 1988, competing in various junior categories both in singles and doubles. His best results at the Junior World Championships were two third places in singles and a victory in doubles with Dietmar Pierhofer. This partnership broke up in 1995, when Haselrieder joined forces with Gerhard Plankensteiner, with whom he achieved most of his most important successes. On the senior level, Haselrieder made his World Cup début in the 1993-94 season, making his first podium in December 1993 in singles, with the first of his five doubles victories coming in January 1995. In the overall standings of the World Cup he was ranked second in doubles in 1996-97.

During his career Haselrieder took part in five Winter Olympics making his début in singles at Albertville in 1992. His other four appearances were all in doubles with the bronze medal in Torino in 2006 the highlight. The last race of his career was at the 2010 Winter Olympics, as his career ended due to a serious injury sustained in training in March 2010. At the World Championships Haselrieder won three bronze medals in doubles and the team event and one gold medal in doubles in 2009. He also received a silver medal and six bronze medals at European Championships and won four Italian Championships, all in doubles.

In 2006 Haselrieder was appointed the Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. He later became a member of the technical staff of the national team. He married Doris Haselrieder, herself an excellent former natural track luger, winning a bronze medal at Worlds as well as one gold and one silver in the European Championships.