Olympic medal record | ||
---|---|---|
Representing Austria | ||
Men's alpine skiing | ||
1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo | Giant Slalom | |
1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo | Downhill |
Andreas "Anderl" Molterer (born 8 October 1931 in Kitzbühel) is an Austrian former alpine skier.
The "White Blitz from Kitz" (in contrast to Toni Sailer, who was the "Black Blitz from Kitz), as he was known, was one of the best skiers of the 1950s, though labouring in Toni Sailer's shadow. At the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy he won silver in the giant slalom, and bronze in the downhill competition. In 1953, 1955, 1958, and 1959 he won the Hahnenkamm Race in Kitzbühel. He was absolutely dominant on the pro circuit in the early 1960s.
Leading up to the 1968 Olympics, there was much speculation that Jean-Claude Killy might win all 3 skiing events. One writer (can't remember who) said it was not likely that anyone could do that, since the slalom and downhill favor different physical characteristics. He noted that the only time it had been done was 12 years before, in 1956, and that Toni Sailer won the giant slalom only because the great Anderl Molterer fell during a run so overpowering that he still came in second, as noted above.