Olympic Winter Games 1964 / Alpine skiing

Alpine skiing at the 1964 Winter Olympics
information
venue	Innsbruck / Axams
Competition venue	Patscherkofel , Axamer Lizum
Nations	31
Athletes	174 (119 , 55 )
date	January 30th - February 8th, 1964
decisions	6th
← Squaw Valley 1960 Grenoble 1968 →

With the IX. During the 1964 Olympic Games in Innsbruck , six alpine skiing competitions were held. The competition venues were the Patscherkofel and the Axamer Lizum . The top three in downhill, giant slalom and slalom received not only Olympic medals but also world championship medals, as these competitions were also classified as the 18th  Alpine World Ski Championships. In the Alpine Combined, only World Championship medals were awarded.

Olympic record

Medal table

space	country				total
1	France	3	3	-	6th
2	Austria	3	2	2	7th
3	United States	-	2	2	4th
4th	Germany	-	-	1	1

Medalist

Men competitor gold silver bronze Departure Egon Zimmermann Léo Lacroix Wolfgang Bartels Giant slalom François Bonlieu Karl Schranz Josef Stiegler slalom Josef Stiegler Billy Kidd Jimmy Heuga

Women competitor gold silver bronze Departure Christl Haas Edith Zimmermann Traudl Hecher Giant slalom Marielle Goitschel Christine Goitschel Jean Saubert - slalom Christine Goitschel Marielle Goitschel Jean Saubert

preview

Especially in alpine men's racing, “this time nothing is as certain as uncertainty”. With this finding, Sport Zürich introduced its preview in its January 29, 1964 issue. Above all, the previous winter with few major international trials of strength, which also mostly took place under conditions that would have touched the limits of regularity, had shown this very clearly. In addition, all Olympic winners from 1960 resigned.

Egon Zimmermann II was called a big favorite (especially for the giant slalom) because of his superiority on the Lauberhorn . The fact that Karl Schranz cannot be given the same credit is that many coincidences could play a part in a descent - and it is actually the case that the Patscherkofel will be the first “real downhill race” this winter (after the classic cancellations) in Wengen and Kitzbühel). The two runs in Madonna di Campiglio had a length of 2,600 m, now the stamina must be sufficient for a further 550 m. This upcoming first big clash of the best downhill skiers, which is also about medals, could open the door to surprises. In the slalom, title holder Charles Bozon (suspended and injured) will not compete, Guy Périllat and one last time François Bonlieu , as well as Ludwig Leitner and Pepi Stiegler , have good chances . The overall impression would speak for advantages for the hosts in their duel against France, whereby according to the impressions in the recent past at least Swiss ( Josef Minsch , Dumeng Giovanoli , Willy Favre ), Germans ( Wolfgang Bartels , Ludwig Leitner) could intervene with very good prospects , maybe Bud Werner too .

The favorite positions for women are far more pronounced. Only Heidi Biebl competed as Olympic champion in 1960, but since the 1962 World Championships in Christl Haas she has had a rival that can hardly be beaten, and if a gold medalist is almost certain, it will be this one. In slalom and giant slalom, Jean Saubert has to be reckoned with. Marielle Goitschel has equally good chances of taking the lead in the last-mentioned disciplines , but Traudl Hecher , who is in top form this winter , can also be counted on in slalom . The prospects for Swiss runners have never been as bad as this time. Therese Obrecht was still slightly injured, and Ruth Adolf and Fernande Bochatay could be in the first dozen .

Regulations

For alpine skiing, the regulations allow 8 runners and 6 runners. Since the ÖSV had 12 men and 8 women in its squad, sports warden Dr. Sepp Sulzberger made the corresponding point calculations on the basis of races regarded as qualifications, because the mere FIS point lists did not take into account previous year's violations.

Men

Departure

space	country	athlete	Time (min)
1	AUT	Egon Zimmermann	2: 18.16
2	FRA	Léo Lacroix	2: 18.90
3	EUA	Wolfgang Bartels	2: 19.48
4th	SUI	Josef Minsch	2: 19.54
5	EUA	Ludwig Leitner	2: 19.67
6th	FRA	Guy Périllat	2: 19.79
7th	AUT	Gerhard Nenning	2: 19.98
8th	SUI	Willy Favre	2: 20.23
9	EUA	Willy Bogner	2: 20.72
10	AUT	Heinrich Messner	2: 20.74
11	AUT	Karl Schranz	2: 20.98
12	EUA	Fritz Wagnerberger	2: 21.03
13	SUI	Dumeng Giovanoli	2: 21.16
18th	SUI	Georg Grünenfelder	2: 22.69
48	LIE	Hans-Walter Schädler	2: 35.84
52	LIE	August Wolfinger	2: 37.25
53	LIE	Josef Gassner	2: 37.38

Date: January 30th, 12:00 p.m.
Piste: "Patscherkofel"
Start: 1952 m, Finish: 1085 m
Difference in altitude: 867 m, route length: 3120 m
Gates: 14

84 participants, 77 of them in the rating.

Zimmermann had already set the best time in “non-stop training” (2: 21.0 min); Lacroix was second in 2: 22.6 minutes ahead of Killy, Werner, Messner, Kidd. Been Schranz. The French had to replace the World Championship runner -up Émile Viollat , who suffered a broken collarbone on January 27 in a training fall (his shoulder caught on a goal post). Pierre Stamos was called up for him .

Around 50,000 spectators were present. Billy Kidd started first at 12:01 p.m. Jean-Claude Killy (No. 9) crashed soon after the start and was far behind in 2: 32.96. Karl Schranz was also one of the losers: he didn't feel in top shape, and he couldn't find the right track from the start. Zimmermann (No. 7) took out his lead in the upper part of the route when he was already 0.8 seconds in front of Lacroix, but lost it almost entirely in the lower section, known as the "Velodrome". He had strapped on a completely new ski model, a metal ski with five grooves (previously tourist and racing models had one longitudinal groove, at most two). Germany impressed the most as a team, with Willy Bogner instead of Eberhard Riedel being appointed to the team. Dumeng Giovanoli had been traded as a secret favorite, but fell short of expectations. In contrast, Guy Périllat, Kidd, Nenning and Messner achieved a result that was in line with their level. There was a serious accident: Jeremy Bujakowski from Poland , who started for India, hit a tree with his head in the upper part of his head and remained unconscious, had to be taken to the Innsbruck University Clinic, where a moderate concussion was diagnosed.

Giant slalom

space	country	athlete	Time (min)
1	FRA	François Bonlieu	1: 46.71
2	AUT	Karl Schranz	1: 47.09
3	AUT	Josef Stiegler	1: 48.05
4th	SUI	Willy Favre	1: 48.69
5	FRA	Jean-Claude Killy	1: 48.92
6th	AUT	Gerhard Nenning	1: 49.68
7th	United States	Billy Kidd	1: 49.97
8th	EUA	Ludwig Leitner	1: 50.04
9	SUI	Josef Minsch	1: 50.61
10	FRA	Guy Périllat	1: 50.75
14th	SUI	Beat von Allmen	1: 54.04
15th	EUA	Eberhard Riedel	1: 54.17
19th	SUI	Edmund Bruggmann	1: 55.30
40	LIE	Hans-Walter Schädler	2: 05.08
46	LIE	August Wolfinger	2: 10.64
47	LIE	Josef Gassner	-

Date: February 2nd, 12:30 p.m.
Piste: "Birgitzköpfl", Axamer Lizum
Start: 2100 m, Finish: 1570 m
Difference in altitude: 530 m, route length: 1250 m
Gates: 75

96 participants, 80 of them in the rating. Retired u. a .: Wolfgang Bartels (EUA), Willy Bogner (EUA), Jimmy Heuga (USA), Wallace Werner (USA), Egon Zimmermann (AUT).

The originally specified route length of 1,250 m was corrected to 1,500 m on January 31st. First, Bonlieu undercut Stiegler's time by 1.34 seconds. Wolfgang Bartels gave up after a fall in the upper part. After him, Gerhard Nenning was well in the race, but missed his chances in the finish area. Heugas 1: 48,76 would have meant rank 5, but he had made a mistake on goal. Although he almost fell before the goal, Willy Favre retained his eligibility for a medal for the time being. Downhill winner Egon Zimmermann (No. 12) was initially measured with the best intermediate time, but he had risked too much, threaded through gate No. 15 and gave up three gates after a slide. Karl Schranz hit a gate the wrong way round. Edmund Bruggmann , who had won the giant slalom in Hindelang a few weeks earlier, came in 19th despite a fall (alongside James Heuga, Willy Bogner (twentieth) was also disqualified.

slalom

space	country	athlete	Time (min)
1	AUT	Josef Stiegler	2: 11.13
2	United States	Billy Kidd	2: 11.27
3	United States	Jimmy Heuga	2: 11.52
4th	FRA	Michel Arpin	2: 12.91
5	EUA	Ludwig Leitner	2: 12.94
6th	SUI	Adolf Mathis	2: 12.99
7th	AUT	Gerhard Nenning	2: 13.20
8th	United States	Wallace Werner	2: 13.46
9	EUA	Wolfgang Bartels	2: 15.92
10	SUI	Stefan Kälin	2: 16.04
13	EUA	Ernst Scherzer	2: 18.10
14th	SUI	Willy Favre	2: 18.22
18th	EUA	Eberhard Riedel	2: 18.85
21st	AUT	Mathias Leitner	2: 19.64
24	AUT	Karl Schranz	2: 21.58
36	LIE	Hans-Walter Schädler	2: 32.00

Qualification slalom February 7th, 11:00 am
Piste: "Birgitzköpfl", Axamer Lizum
Start: 1730 m, finish: 1600 m,
altitude difference: 130 m, route length: 350 m

Special slalom February 8th, 12:00 noon
Piste: "Birgitzköpfl", Axamer Lizum
Start: 1770 m, Finish: 1570 m
Difference in altitude: 200 m, route length: 470 m
1st run: 78 goals, course setter Ernst Oberaigner (AUT)
2nd. Run: 71 goals, course setter Hermann Nogler (ITA)

95 participants, 50 of them in the main competition and 39 in the evaluation. Retired u. a .: François Bonlieu (FRA), Charles Ferries (USA), Bengt-Erik Grahn (SWE), Jean-Claude Killy (FRA), Josef Minsch (SUI).

From the Austrians, Stiegler should start alongside Schranz, Nenning and Matthias Leitner. According to sports manager Sepp Sulzberger, Zimmermann was out of the question after his giant slalom failure. On February 4th it became known that a secret elimination between Zimmermann and Stiegler had taken place on the women's giant slalom course in the Lizum, which Zimmermann had won, through higher intervention. There were further interventions (the elimination race was carried out without the knowledge of the team supervisors) and on February 5th, Stiegler was nominated. Hans-Peter Lanig had planned the course , because there was also an elimination for the German slalom team.

On February 7th, two qualifying runs took place in the Lizum, for which 5,000 spectators had gathered. In the first run, the top 25 qualified for the actual race on February 8th, in a second run all those who were slower and those who had fallen were able to gain another 25 starting positions. Matthias Leitner was hindered in his run and was allowed to start again: In the middle section, three runners were entangled in a ball (including the Iranian Prince Karim Aga Khan ). Leitner climbed over this obstacle with one ski, but then the binding opened on the second ski. In the second run u. a. even Jean-Claude Killy and Eberhard Riedel qualify.

After the first round of the actual race, Stiegler was clearly in the lead ahead of Schranz and Nenning. In the second run, Schranz, who started immediately behind Stiegler, tried to win the gold medal, but fell down, which meant he missed his good chance of winning combination gold. Silver and bronze for the two US runners Kidd and Heuga were a surprise. During Ludwig Leitner's rather cautious drive, it could be seen that he was aiming for combination gold.

Women

Departure

space	country	sportswoman	Time (min)
1	AUT	Christl Haas	1: 55.39
2	AUT	Edith Zimmermann	1: 56.42
3	AUT	Traudl Hecher	1: 56.66
4th	EUA	Heidi Biebl	1: 57.87
5	EUA	Barbara Henneberger	1: 58.03
6th	FRA	Madeleine Bochatay	1: 59.11
7th	CAN	Nancy Greene	1: 59.23
8th	FRA	Christine Terraillon	1: 59.66
9	FRA	Annie Famose	1: 59.86
10	FRA	Marielle Goitschel	2: 00.77
12	EUA	Burgl Färberinger	2: 01.23
17th	SUI	Heidi Obrecht	2: 02.23
19th	SUI	Theres Obrecht	2: 02.41
20th	SUI	Ruth Adolf	2: 02.59
22nd	AUT	Edda Kainz	2: 02.69
23	EUA	Heidi Mittermaier	2: 03.05

Date: February 6, 1:00 p.m.
Piste: "Hoadl", Axamer Lizum
Start: 2310 m, Finish: 1605 m
Difference in altitude: 705 m, route length: 2510 m
Gates: 24

43 participants, all in the ranking.

In the final non-stop training, Edith Zimmermann was fastest ahead of Annie Famose and Pia Riva. The times of the pre-Olympic race in 1963 could not be compared because of the changed route.

On the night of race day there had been eight centimeters of fresh snow that had to be cleared from the track. The temperatures had also risen sharply, an ice-cold north wind was blowing. It all came down to the right choice of wax and even before the race, Austria's coach Gamon ordered tests on the giant slalom course. The starting order meant that one of the Austrians always took the lead. The superiority of the winning trio over the other drivers was enormous. Haas had already gained 0.8 seconds ahead in the upper part of the track. Zimmermann was the fastest in the technically most difficult passage, the Gufel ​​steep slope. On the other hand, Hecher lost some of her time here. The conditions were even.

Giant slalom

space	country	sportswoman	Time (min)
1	FRA	Marielle Goitschel	1: 52.24
2	United States	Jean Saubert	1: 53.11
	FRA	Christine Goitschel
4th	AUT	Christl Haas	1: 53.86
5	FRA	Annie Famose	1: 53.89
6th	AUT	Edith Zimmermann	1: 54.21
7th	EUA	Barbara Henneberger	1: 54.26
8th	AUT	Traudl Hecher	1: 54.55
9	SUI	Fernande Bochatay	1: 54.59
	ITA	Pia Riva
11	SUI	Theres Obrecht	1: 54.91
12	SUI	Ruth Adolf	1: 55.83
13	AUT	Marianne Jahn	1: 55.95
15th	SUI	Françoise Gay	1: 57.21
18th	EUA	Burgl Färberinger	1: 58.84
22nd	EUA	Heidi Mittermaier	2: 00.77

Date: February 3, 12:30 p.m.
Piste: "Birgitzköpfl", Axamer Lizum
Start: 2050 m, Finish: 1550 m
Difference in altitude: 500 m, route length: 1250 m
Gates: 59

46 participants, 42 of them in the evaluation. Retired u. a .: Heidi Biebl (EUA), Madeleine Bochatay (FRA).

In spring-like weather, the flow of spectators did not reach the same level as in the men's races, but the shadowy area in a wide forest aisle was about 400 m long, which, after a change of direction of almost 90 degrees, was followed by the relatively flat, sun-exposed finish entrance. Pretty heavily populated two hours before the start. However, there was not a particularly optimistic mood along the racetrack. The giant slalom proved what had been suggested in the slalom: the Goitschel sisters and Saubert represented a class of their own in the alpine women's competitions. This time the lead of the two Goitschel sisters and the American Saubert in terms of “ski control, body control, souplesse and technical skill” was even more pronounced than in the slalom. Marielle Goitschel and Jean-Claude Killy had allowed themselves a joke the previous evening when they announced their alleged engagement. The headlines in the newspapers turned out accordingly.

slalom

space	country	sportswoman	Time (min)
1	FRA	Christine Goitschel	1: 29.86
2	FRA	Marielle Goitschel	1: 30.77
3	United States	Jean Saubert	1: 31.36
4th	EUA	Heidi Biebl	1: 34.04
5	AUT	Edith Zimmermann	1: 34.27
6th	AUT	Christl Haas	1: 35.11
7th	NOR	Liv Jagge-Christiansen	1: 36.38
8th	BEL	Patricia du Roy de Blicquy	1: 37.01
9	ITA	Pia Riva	1: 37.20
10	EUA	Barbara Henneberger	1: 37.55
	EUA	Heidi Mittermaier
13	SUI	Françoise Gay	1: 39.00
14th	SUI	Heidi Obrecht	1: 39.33
25th	SUI	Theres Obrecht	1: 54.09

Date: February 1st, 12:00 p.m.
Piste: "Birgitzköpfl", Axamer Lizum
Start: 1730 m, Finish: 1600 m
Difference in altitude: 130 m, route length: 350 m
1st run: 51 goals, course setter: Suter (SUI)
2nd run Run: 56 goals, course setter: Hermann Gamon (AUT)

46 participants, 28 of them in the evaluation. Retired u. a .: Fernande Bochatay (SUI), Giustina Demetz (ITA), Annie Famose (FRA), Burgl Farbinger (EUA), Barbara Ferries (USA), Divina Galica (GBR), Gina Hathorn both (GBR), Traudl Hecher (AUT ), Marianne Jahn (AUT), Astrid Sandvik (NOR).

In a preview, Émile Allais had expressed the opinion that the slalom would be too difficult, mainly because of the steepness of the slope. Most of them were named Marielle Goitschel and Jean Saubert for the medals, with the numbers 1 and 8 having an advantage. It turned out a little different, because Christine, who was a year older than her, won with No. 14, although Marielle, who already had a medal almost certainly, had not pushed to the last consequence in the second run. World champion Marianne Jahn fell quite early. Also striking is the time difference (2.68 sec.) Between Saubert and fourth-placed Biebl, who started with a meniscus damage in the right knee, which had become acute during a short forest run in the morning.

World Championship

Combination (men)

space	country	athlete	Points
1	EUA	Ludwig Leitner	33.99
2	AUT	Gerhard Nenning	34.37
3	United States	Billy Kidd	36.45
4th	SUI	Willy Favre	48.82
5	FRA	Guy Périllat	51.56
6th	AUT	Karl Schranz	54.75

No Olympic medals were awarded for the combined competition, only World Cup medals. The positions were determined according to a point system from the results of the downhill, giant slalom and slalom.

Before the final slalom, Schranz was ahead after two competitions with 15.33 points, just ahead of Bonlieu (16.22), Favre (21.59), Nenning (26.10) and Ludwig Leitner (26.73).

Combination (women)

space	country	sportswoman	Points
1	FRA	Marielle Goitschel	34.82
2	AUT	Christl Haas	40.11
3	AUT	Edith Zimmermann	43.13
4th	United States	Jean Saubert	58.76
5	EUA	Barbara Henneberger	70.40
6th	ITA	Pia Riva	92.50

No Olympic medals were awarded for the combined competition, only World Cup medals. The positions were determined according to a point system from the results of the downhill, giant slalom and slalom.

Christine Goitschel was ahead after slalom and giant slalom, u. with 4.96 points, her sister Marielle followed with 5.64; the other ranking was Saubert (14.16), Edith Zimmermann (37.27) and Haas (40.11). Henneberger (55.74) and Biebl (75.13) were classified in ranks 7 and 8. However, the French ski coach Honoré Bonnet did not field Christine Goitschel for the descent, but Christine Terraillon , because she "had achieved the better results this season".

Web links

• Overview of all races in the database of the International Ski Federation (English)
• Alpine skiing at the 1964 Winter Olympics in the Sports-Reference database (English; archived from the original )

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c} Sport Zurich, January 29, 1964.
2. ↑ "A consistent judge - ÖSV sports warden Dr. Sepp Sulzberger decided with slide rule "in" Tiroler Tageszeitung "No. 23 of January 29, 1964, page 29
3. ↑ Viollat ​​with broken collarbone. In: Sport Zürich, January 27, 1964.
4. ↑ “Zimmermann gilded the Patscherkofel”, “21 runners remained below the previous year's record”, “Indians had an accident”. Kleine Zeitung Graz, January 31, 1964, pp. 12, 13, 14.
5. ^ "3 Austrians among the top ten". Kurier Vienna, January 31, 1964, pp. 7 and 8.
6. ↑ «H. Bonnet disappointed: Only one win counts for him. Schranz not nervous - that's why he drove badly ». Kronen-Zeitung, January 31, 1964, p. 19.
7. ^ "Winner Egon Zimmermann before the second gold medal?" Kronen-Zeitung Vienna, January 31, 1964.
8. ↑ «Schranz only won halfway». Kurier Vienna, February 3, 1964, pp. 7 and 8.
9. ^ "Bonlieu used his chance" and "Giant slalom: Bonlieu before Schranz and Stiegler". Kleine Zeitung Graz, February 4, 1964, pp. 16 and 17.
10. ↑ "Eight disqualifications in giant slalom. Heuga also eliminated in fifth place "in" Tiroler Tageszeitung "No. 27 of February 3, 1964, page 5
11. ↑ «Föhn endangers slalom. Zimmermann doesn't drive. Toboggan run under water ». Courier Vienna, February 4, 1964, p. 9.
12. ↑ “Intrigues about the slalom start” and gloss “Psychosis” by Heribert Meisel. Courier Vienna, February 5, 1964, p. 10.
13. ^ "Outrage in Tyrol: Egon instead of Stiegler in the slalom". Kronen-Zeitung, February 5, 1964.
14. ^ "Slalom scandal: trainers and coaches step back". Kronen-Zeitung, February 6, 1964.
15. ↑ «Well, Pepi Stiegler!». Courier Vienna, February 6, 1964, p. 10.
16. ^ "Bartels with palpitations". Kurier Vienna, February 8, 1964, pp. 9 and 10.
17. ^ "All four Austrians qualified in the slalom". Kleine Zeitung Graz, February 8, 1964, p. 15.
18. ↑ «Hias Leitner collided with Aga Khan. Four unknowns in the slalom final ». Kronen-Zeitung, February 8, 1964, p. 19.
19. ^ "A fallen Chilean caused a human avalanche in the Lizum when H. Leitner started the slalom qualification run" in "Tiroler Tageszeitung" No. 32 of February 8, 1964, Olympic page II
20. ^ "Gold for Pepi Stiegler, but the Americans Kidd and Heuga close together" in "Sport Zurich" No. 19 of February 10, 1964, p. 7
21. ^ "Fear: Today's last battle - The decision in the cannon barrel". Courier Vienna, February 6, 1964, p. 10.
22. ^ "Last chance for Christl Haas, Hecher & Co." Kleine Zeitung Graz, February 6, 1964, p. 14.
23. ↑ "40,000 celebrated Austria's ski triumph" and "This is how Austria's women fought - the exact analysis of the fight". Kurier Vienna, February 7, 1964, pp. 7 and 8.
24. ↑ “The revenge was successful: Christl before Edith and Traudl” and “Heidi Biebl, the“ eternal fourth ”. Hats off to flyweight Edith »Kronen-Zeitung, February 7, 1964, p. 19.
25. ^ "Total red-white-red triumph" and "Gold, silver, bronze for Austria's women". Kleine Zeitung Graz, February 7, 1964, pp. 12, 13 and 15.
26. ↑ Red-white-red at half mast and first engagement, then gold for Marielle Goitschel. In: Kleine Zeitung Graz. February 4, 1964, pp. 14, 15, 17.
27. ↑ Marielle in the finish area: Engagement tonight! In: Kronen-Zeitung. February 4, 1964, p. 3.
28. ↑ Most rational slalom style: Marielle, Christine, Jean. In: Kronen-Zeitung. 4th February 1964.
29. ↑ The engagement announcement was just joking ... In: Kleine Zeitung Graz. February 6, 1964, p. 13.
30. ^ "This women's slalom is far too difficult" Kronen-Zeitung, February 1, 1964, p. 15.
31. ^ "Christine and Marielle - Stars in the Lizum Ski Circus" Kronen-Zeitung, February 2, 1964, p. 3.
32. ↑ «It doesn't work without Jahn! The Goitschels among themselves ». Kronen-Zeitung, February 2, 1964, p. 22.
33. ↑ "Biebl: Start with meniscus damage!" Kronen-Zeitung, February 2, 1964, p. 23.
34. ↑ "Eight disqualifications in giant slalom. Heuga also eliminated in fifth place "in" Tiroler Tageszeitung "No. 27 of February 3, 1964, page 5
35. ^ "Combination: Christine and Marielle Goitschel lead"; "Kronen-Zeitung" of February 4, 1964, below
36. ^ "Christine not there"; "Kronen-Zeitung" of February 5, 1964, column 1