The ski world mourns the news of the death of one of the sport’s top leaders, Heinrich Messner (†84). The holder of two Olympic medals was also the winner of the first World Cup race. The Kurier newspaper was the first to report his death, and it was later confirmed by the Austrian Ski Association.
The Tyrol native became the winner of the first World Cup race in 1967, held in the German city of Berchtesgaden. He ultimately finished the entire season in second place behind French rider Jean-Claude Killy.
Heini, as the people nicknamed him, was considered a slalom specialist and in 1968 won a bronze medal in this discipline at the Olympic Games in France. However, in Japan four years later, he also showed his talent in downhill, where he won his second Olympic bronze.
After this success, he then ended his professional career and started a coaching career. She took over the Austrian women’s ski team and in the first season she was able to celebrate great success under the leadership of Annemarie Moser-Pröllová. After his resignation in 1975, Messner managed a ski school and boarding house in his native village of Gries.
The former racer later became interested in ski touring, golf and mountain biking and even took part in the Ötztal Cycling Marathon three times.
Legendary downhiller Heinrich Messner (left) has died
Topics: skiing, bronze, blitz, Austria, Tyrol, Olympics, France, Japan, Jean-Claude Killy, Heinrich Messner, Kurier, Berchtesgaden,
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