Florence STEURER

Florence Steurer was a good all-around racer, but was better in the technical events. At Sapporo in 1972 Steurer won an Olympic bronze medal in the slalom. In that era, the Olympic races were also World Championship events, so she added a World silver medal in the combined at Sapporo, but this was a non-Olympic event. Steurer had won two earlier World Championship medals, a silver in combined in 1970 and a bronze in giant slalom in 1966.

Steurer won four World Cup races, three in slalom and one in giant slalom. But as evidence of her all-around ability, she had 27 World Cup podiums – six in downhill, seven in giant slalom, and 14 in slalom. She was second in the overall World Cup in both 1968 and 1969, and was second three times in the slalom seasonal standings, in 1968, and 1971-72. She also had seasonal third places in the downhill in 1969-70 and the giant slalom in 1968. After her retirement from racing Steurer became director of the communication agency Duodecim. She was made a chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 2009.