Born: 1973 (Vienna, Austria)
Biography:
Michaela Dorfmeister, born on March 25, 1973, in Vienna, is a former Austrian alpine skier who achieved tremendous success in her career. Her achievements include being a two-time Olympic champion, two-time world champion, winner of the overall World Cup once, the Downhill World Cup and the Super-G World Cup twice each, and the Giant Slalom World Cup once.
Dorfmeister spent her early years in Vienna before her family moved to Neusiedl in the Waidmannsfeld municipality. It was there that she developed her passion for skiing. At the age of 14, Dorfmeister began her apprenticeship at the Schladming Ski Trade School, taking her first steps towards a professional career in skiing.
In 1990, Dorfmeister became the Austrian junior champion in downhill and slalom. That same year, she participated in the Austrian Championships for the first time and astounded everyone by outperforming older competitors in the Super-G event. This achievement marked the beginning of her journey to the top of the skiing world.
After four years of hard work and dedication, Dorfmeister achieved her first World Cup victory on December 16, 1995, in the downhill event held in St. Anton am Arlberg. Her triumphs continued in the following years, with a silver medal in the super-G at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, where she missed out on the gold by a mere hundredth of a second to Olympic champion Picabo Street. She also won two more medals at the 1999 World Ski Championships in Vail, clinching silver in the downhill and bronze in the super-G events.
During the 1999/2000 season, Dorfmeister claimed an impressive five World Cup victories, yet came in second place overall behind Renate Götschl. However, she did manage to win the discipline World Cup in giant slalom that same season. In 2001, at the World Ski Championships in St. Anton am Arlberg, she secured the gold medal in the downhill event, solidifying her position as one of the sport’s leading athletes.
The 2001/2002 season proved to be Dorfmeister’s standout year. Dominating the slopes, she emerged as the most accomplished skier of the season, winning the overall World Cup title by a significant margin. However, at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, she fell short of expectations and could only manage fourth place in giant slalom, fifth in combined, and sixth in super-G events.
Undeterred by her Olympic disappointment, Dorfmeister bounced back in 2003, winning her second world championship title in Super-G at the World Ski Championships in St. Moritz. That year, she also claimed the downhill discipline World Cup and was honored as the Austrian Sportswoman of the Year.
Despite a somewhat lackluster 2003/2004 season, Dorfmeister regained her form and continued to impress on the slopes. She retired from professional skiing after a remarkable career, leaving her mark as one of the most successful and influential alpine skiers of her time.
Throughout her career, Michaela Dorfmeister faced numerous challenges and setbacks but always persevered with determination and grit. Her achievements continue to inspire not only aspiring athletes but also women around the globe. Her contributions to the world of skiing and her role in women’s history make her a true icon in the sport.
Awards:
– Olympic champion (2x)
– World champion (2x)
– Overall World Cup winner (1x)
– Downhill World Cup winner (2x)
– Super-G World Cup winner (2x)
– Giant Slalom World Cup winner (1x)