Alpine skiing is an Olympic sport that is contested at the Winter Olympic Games. The first Winter Olympics, held in 1924, included nordic skiing, but the first alpine skiing events were not held until the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. A combined event was held for both men and women in 1936. The International Ski Federation (FIS) decided that ski instructors could not compete in 1936 because they were professionals, and the Olympics were meant for amateur athletes. Because of this, Austrian and Swiss skiers boycotted the events, although some Austrians decided to compete for Germany. The next Olympic Games, held in 1948 (the 1940 and 1944 Olympics were not held due to World War II), saw two new events added: downhill and slalom. Combined events were also held in 1948, but were dropped after that and not contested again until 1988.
At the most recent Winter Olympics, events for both men and women were held in five disciplines: downhill, slalom, giant slalom (since 1952), super giant slalom (Super G) (since 1988), and combined. From 1948 to 1980, the Winter Olympics also served as the World Championships in Olympic years (with separate competitions held in even-numbered non-Olympic years). Since 1985, the World Championships have been scheduled every odd-numbered year, independent of the Winter Olympics.
Norwegian Kjetil André Aamodt has won eight medals (four gold, two silver, two bronze), more than any other alpine skier at the Olympics. He is also the oldest alpine skier to have won a medal (34). Austrian Traudl Hecher, who won a bronze medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics at the age of 16, is the youngest alpine skier to have medalled. Croatian Janica Kostelić has won the most medals of any woman, with six (four gold, two silver). At the 1952 Winter Olympics, American Andrea Mead Lawrence became the first alpine skier to win two gold medals; in 1992, Italian Alberto Tomba won a gold in the giant slalom and was the first alpine skier to successfully defend their Olympic title. At the 1956 Games, Austrian Toni Sailer became the first to win gold in all of the available events; the feat was later repeated by France's Jean-Claude Killy in 1968. Austrian skiers have won a combined 101 medals, including 30 golds, more than any other nation. At least one Austrian has won a medal every year, except in 1936. A total of 122 gold medals, 125 silver medals and 120 bronze medals have been awarded since 1936 and have been won by skiers from 24 National Olympic Committees (NOC).
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| Men |
Downhill • Slalom • Giant slalom • Super G • Combined |
| Women |
Downhill • Slalom • Giant slalom • Super G • Combined |
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Statistics See also References |
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—F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940)
“Weigh what loss your honor may sustain
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Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open
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—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“Like Olympic medals and tennis trophies, all they signified was that the owner had done something of no benefit to anyone more capably than everyone else.”
—Joseph Heller (b. 1923)
“Reason now gazes above the realm of the dark but warm feelings as the Alpine peaks do above the clouds. They behold the sun more clearly and distinctly, but they are cold and unfruitful.”
—G.C. (Georg Christoph)