Franz Klammer, the most successful downhill skier of all time, celebrated his 70th birthday on December 3, 2023. He was born in Afritz am See, Carinthia, and began his skiing career at the age of five. Klammer celebrated his greatest successes in the 1970s. He won two Olympic gold medals in Sapporo in 1972 and Innsbruck in 1976, as well as three world titles in Gröden in 1970, St. Moritz in 1974, and Innsbruck in 1976. He also won the overall World Cup five times and the downhill World Cup six times during this time.
Klammer is considered one of the greatest skiers of all time. He was known for his breathtaking downhill runs, his technique, and his mental strength. He is a folk hero in Austria and inspired generations of skiers in all the world.
To celebrate his 70th birthday, Klammer was honored with a grand ceremony in Bad Kleinkirchheim. The ceremony was attended by numerous prominent guests from politics, sports, and business.
Klammer is still active in skiing today. He is an ambassador for the International Ski Federation (FIS) and supports young skiers. He is also an entrepreneur and runs a ski shop in Bad Kleinkirchheim.
Here are some additional details about Klammer’s career:
He won a total of 35 World Cup races, 25 of which were downhills.
He stood on the podium 46 times in the World Cup, 28 of those times in first place.
He was voted Austrian Sportsman of the Year in 1975.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the International Ski Federation (FIS) in 2005.
His innate humanity and friendliness are also unique and can be summarized in his response to a journalist who asked him how he wants to be remembered: “as Franz”
In two words, the greatness of the champion and the man!
Our best wishes and congrats to “Franz”
Pictures: IOC – Wikipedia