Hubert RAUDASCHL

With nine participations, Hubert Raudaschl held the absolute record for competing in the most Olympics from 1996 until 2012, when Ian Millar appeared in his 10th edition. The number could have been even higher, as he was present at the 1960 Olympics as an 18-year-old. He was, however, only a substitute for the Austrian sailing team there. In 1964 he started his Olympic career in the Finn class, finishing 5th, improving to silver in Mexico. He then switched from the solo vessels to two- and three-person boats. After the Tempest (1972) and the Soling (1976, together with his brother Walter), he settled for the Star class. He competed in that boat from 1980 to 1996, getting his best finish in 1980. Together with Karl Ferstl he again won a silver medal. It could have been gold, had they not been (controversially) disqualified in the third race, which they won. In his long Olympic career, Raudaschl also carried the Austrian flag four times during opening ceremonies, which is also a record. Following his last Olympic competition in 1996, he has focused on working in the family business, a sail factory. His son Florian attempted to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Finn competitions, but had to wait until 2012 to follow in his father's footsteps.