The first to win three alpine gold medals at a single Winter Olympics — the founding legend of Austrian skiing.
Anton "Toni" Sailer was born in Kitzbühel, Austria in 1935. At the 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo Olympics he won all three alpine skiing events — downhill, slalom and giant slalom — by the largest margins in Olympic history. He won the downhill by 3.5 seconds. He won the World Championship in all three disciplines. He later became an actor and singer in Austrian popular culture. He remained Kitzbühel's most celebrated native until his death in 2009. He established the template for Austrian alpine dominance that has continued through Klammer, Mayer and Hirscher.
Best Known For
Olympic Gold 3x (1956: downhill, slalom, giant slalom)
Honours & Achievements
Career Honours
- Olympic Gold 3x (1956: downhill, slalom, giant slalom)
- World Champion 3x
Career Journey
Timeline
1935
👶 Born in Kitzbühel, Austria
1961
🏁 Retired from professional sport
🏆 Olympic Gold 3x (1956: downhill, slalom, giant slalom)
🏆 World Champion 3x