Born: 1 February 1931 (Château-d’Oex, Switzerland)
Biography:
Madeleine Berthod (born 1 February 1931 in Château-d’Oex) is a former Swiss alpine skier. She grew up on a farm and first started competing in ski races among friends. Her exceptional talent caught the attention of the local ski club and at the age of 14 or 15, she was registered for the French-speaking Swiss Championships and then for the Swiss Championships. Madeleine immediately proved her skills by finishing in the top five.
This early success marked the start of Madeleine’s ski racing career, and she soon joined the Swiss national team. In 1954, at the World Championships in Åre, she won the silver medal in the giant slalom and achieved a 5th place in the downhill, securing her the win in the combined event. Her performance at the World Championships confirmed her status as one of the top alpine skiers of her time.
Madeleine Berthod’s Olympic journey began in 1952 at the Summer Olympics in Oslo, where she competed in both the downhill and slalom events and finished sixth in both. Four years later, at the 1956 Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, she achieved her greatest triumph by winning the gold medal in the downhill. This victory also counted as a world championship race. In the giant slalom, she finished fifth. However, a mistake at one of the gates cost her a sure victory. Nevertheless, Madeleine’s gold medal in the downhill solidified her place among the elite ski racers of her era.
In addition to her success at the major competitions, Madeleine Berthod also excelled in other races. She participated in the SDS races in Grindelwald and claimed eight victories during her career. Her first win came in the slalom on 11 January 1952, in a surprise victory. She also finished fourth in the giant slalom on 13 January 1952. Madeleine continued her strong performances, finishing third in the downhill on 10 January 1953 and fourth in the slalom on 11 January 1953, resulting in a second-place finish in the combined event.
Madeleine’s success continued in the SDS races. On 10 January 1954, she won the downhill and took second place in the combined event, thanks to a 5th place finish in the slalom despite a fall in the first run. She also finished 7th in the giant slalom on 2 January 1954. On 6 and 7 January 1955, Madeleine finished second in both the giant slalom and slalom, narrowly missing out on victory in the giant slalom after a correction in the electric timekeeping. However, she secured a win in the downhill on 9 January 1955, claiming the combined event as well.
In her last participation in the SDS races, on 5 January 1956, Madeleine finished third in the giant slalom. She then went on to win the downhill and the combined event on 8 January 1956. Madeleine also had a fourth-place finish in the slalom on 6 January 1956.
Following her successes on the international stage and in the SDS races, Madeleine Berthod competed in the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley. She finished 9th in the giant slalom and 28th in the slalom, marking the end of her skiing career.
Madeleine Berthod’s achievements on the slopes elevated her status within the world of alpine skiing. Her prowess and determination made her a role model for aspiring athletes, especially young women. She paved the way for future generations of female alpine skiers, inspiring them to dream big and strive for excellence.
Awards:
– Silver medal in giant slalom at the 1954 World Championships in Åre
– Gold medal in downhill at the 1956 Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, which counted as a world championship race
– World champion in the combined event at the 1956 Olympics