Maria Theurl started her career as a late starter at the Stams ski school and was active in the cross-country world cup for 15 years . She took part in two Olympic Games ( Calgary 1988 , Nagano 1998 ) and six Nordic World Ski Championships (Oberstdorf 1987, Lahti 1989, Val di Fiemme 1991, Falun 1993, Trondheim 1997, Ramsau 1999). The East Tyrolean celebrated her greatest success by winning the bronze medal for 15 km skating at the 1999 home world championships in Ramsau am Dachstein . It was the first and to date the only medal win by an Austrian cross-country skier at a major international event.
In addition, the athlete, who started for the Kitzbühel Ski Club during her career , achieved numerous top 10 places in the World Cup and won the Worldloppet three times . In 1995 she won the American Birkebeiner .
After the career
After finishing her career she became a trainer and was responsible for the female youth in the Austrian Ski Association . She currently works as a trainer assistant for the Province of Styria. Maria Theurl is married to the former Austrian cross-country skier Achim Walcher and has a daughter (Witta-Luisa * 2002). Today she lives in Ramsau am Dachstein, the place of her greatest triumph. The local community of Ramsau gave the athlete a gift by naming the cross-country ski run there after her.
Austria
