Patrick Ortlieb Austrian alpine skier Date of Birth: 20.05.1967 Country: Austria

1. Patrick Ortlieb: Olympic Champion and Alpine Racing Legend
2. Debuting and Triumphing in the World Cup
3. Olympic Gold and Near Podium in Lillehammer
4. World Championship Success and Career End
5. Political Career and Entrepreneurship
6. Legacy and Family

Patrick Ortlieb: Olympic Champion and Alpine Racing Legend

Born in Innsbruck, Austria, Patrick Ortlieb embarked on an illustrious alpine racing career that culminated in an Olympic gold medal and numerous accolades.

Debuting and Triumphing in the World Cup

Ortlieb made his World Cup debut in December 1988, showcasing his prowess as a downhill specialist. Five years later, he secured his first World Cup victory in December 1993 in the same discipline. Throughout his career, he notched a total of four World Cup triumphs, including three in downhill and one in super-G. His best World Cup overall finish was a commendable seventh place in the 1992/93 season.

Olympic Gold and Near Podium in Lillehammer

At the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, Ortlieb made history by winning the gold medal in the downhill event as the first starter. His victory margin of just 0.05 seconds over Franck Piccard of France remains one of the closest finishes in Olympic alpine racing. Ortlieb also placed 18th in the super-G. In Lillehammer two years later, he narrowly missed a podium finish in the downhill, placing fourth, a mere 0.14 seconds behind bronze medalist Ed Podivinsky of Canada.

World Championship Success and Career End

Ortlieb's four World Championship appearances were solely dedicated to the downhill, culminating in a gold medal victory in 1996. He competed on Head skis for the majority of his career. His promising journey was cut short in 1999 when he suffered an injury during training in Kitzbühel.

Political Career and Entrepreneurship

Following his retirement from racing, Ortlieb ventured into politics. He was elected to the National Council of Austria, representing the Freedom Party of Austria. Presently, he owns the four-star Hotel Montana in Lech.

Legacy and Family

Ortlieb's daughter, Nina (born April 2, 1996), has inherited her father's racing genes. She has achieved success on the international level, notably winning a bronze medal in the 2023 World Championship downhill and securing junior world championships in giant slalom (2015) and super-G (2016).