Born: 1943 (Kitzbühel, Austria)
Died: 2001
Biography:
Christl Haas (19 September 1943 – 8 July 2001) was an Austrian alpine skier who made a significant impact on the sport in the 1960s. Born and raised in Kitzbühel, a town renowned for its world-class ski slopes, Haas developed a passion for skiing from an early age. This passion, combined with her natural talent, would propel her to become one of the best downhill skiers in the world.
Haas began her skiing career at a young age, joining the Kitzbühel Ski Club, which recognized her exceptional talent and started to nurture and promote her skills. In 1960, at the age of 16, Haas became the Austrian junior champion in downhill skiing. That same winter, she participated in her first major international races, where she achieved remarkable success. She triumphed at the Parsenn Derby in Davos and claimed victories in the downhill, slalom, and combined events at the Coppa Femina in Abetone. Additionally, she finished second in the downhill at the prestigious Arlberg-Kandahar race, solidifying her position as an up-and-coming skiing star.
The following year, Haas continued to excel, securing more impressive results and winning her first Austrian championship title in the downhill at the age of 17. This initial success laid the foundation for a remarkable career that would see her win a total of eight Austrian championship titles.
Haas made her mark on the international stage in the 1961/62 season when she qualified for the World Championships in Chamonix, France. At the young age of 18, she achieved her first major triumph by becoming the downhill world champion. With a remarkable lead of over three seconds ahead of Italy’s Pia Riva, Haas showcased her exceptional skills and determination. Her achievement made her the second youngest downhill world champion in history at that time, second only to Esmé MacKinnon.
In the 1962/63 season, Haas faced a setback when she suffered a severe fall during the giant slalom in Oberstaufen. The injury forced her to take a break from competing for several weeks. However, she made a triumphant comeback by winning the downhill event at Abetone in her first race after the injury. Throughout the rest of the season, Haas continued to secure victories, including a remarkable triple triumph in downhill, slalom, and combined events in Zermatt.
The pinnacle of Haas’ career came in the 1963/64 season when she emerged as the clear favorite for the Olympic Games in Innsbruck. Before the Games, she won the downhill at the Silver Jug races in Bad Gastein, annihilating her compatriot Traudl Hecher by over five seconds. At the Winter Olympics, Haas demonstrated her mastery and claimed the coveted Olympic gold medal in the downhill event. She also showed her versatility by achieving respectable results in the slalom (sixth place) and giant slalom (fourth place) events.
Haas’ skiing career was tragically cut short by a car accident in 1966. Despite the brevity of her competitive years, her impact on the sport and her accomplishments continue to be celebrated. She will always be remembered as a talented and passionate skier who left an indelible mark on the history of alpine skiing.
Awards:
– Olympic Gold Medal in Downhill (1964)
– Austrian Junior Champion in Downhill (1960)
– Austrian Championship Titles in Downhill
(1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969)