Rosi Mittermaier

Rosa Anna Katharina Mittermaier-Neureuther (German: [ˈʁozi ˈmɪtɐˌmaɪ̯ɐ] ⓘ; 5 August 1950 – 4 January 2023) was a German alpine skier. She was the overall World Cup champion in 1976 and a double gold medalist at the 1976 Winter Olympics.[1]

Rosi Mittermaier
Mittermaier in 2014
Born(1950-08-05)5 August 1950
Munich, Bavaria, West Germany
Died4 January 2023(2023-01-04) (aged 72)
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria, Germany
OccupationAlpine skier
Height1.59 m (5 ft 3 in)
Skiing career
DisciplinesDownhill, giant slalom, slalom, combined
World Cup debut1 February 1967 (age 16)
Retired31 May 1976 (age 25)
Websitewww.rosi-mittermaier.de
Olympics
Teams3 – (1968, 1972, 1976)
Medals3 (2 gold)
World Championships
Teams5 – (1968–76)[lower-alpha 1]
Medals4 (3 gold)
World Cup
Seasons10 – (1967–1976)
Wins10 – (1 GS, 8 SL, 1 K)
Podiums41 – (4 DH, 11 GS, 22 SL, 4 K)
Overall titles1 – (1976)
Discipline titles2 – (SL & K in 1976)
Medal record
Women's alpine skiing
Representing  West Germany
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1976 Innsbruck Downhill
Gold medal – first place 1976 Innsbruck Slalom
Silver medal – second place 1976 Innsbruck Giant slalom
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1976 Innsbruck Combined

Mittermaier competed in alpine skiing from 1967 to 1976, retiring after a highly successful season in which she finished with two Olympic gold medals and ranked first in the World Cup. She remained popular, advertising for sports and as a non-fiction writer. She was known as Gold-Rosi, and she was inducted into Germany's Sports Hall of Fame in April 2006 when it was initiated.

Life and career

Mittermaier was born in Munich[2] and grew up in Reit im Winkl on the Winklmoos-Alm.[3] Her father had run there the Passauer Hütte.[4] A certified skiing instructor, he also owned a skiing school from 1966,[5] and was the first to train his daughters.[6]

Racing career

Mittermaier made her World Cup debut in the inaugural season of 1967,[7] and won her first World Cup race two seasons later.[8]

She won two gold medals (downhill and slalom)[9] and one silver (giant slalom) at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck.[10][11] Her victory in the Olympic downhill was the only downhill win in her international career.[12] Mittermaier was the most successful athlete at those games, along with cross-country skier Raisa Smetanina of the Soviet Union, earning her the nickname of Gold-Rosi within Germany (then West Germany).[13]

In addition to the overall World Cup title, she also won the season title in slalom and combined in 1976. After winning both races at Copper Mountain in Colorado to wrap up the overall and slalom titles,[14] the four-year-old resort immediately named the race course run after her.[15][16] In addition to her success in international competition, she also won 16 German national titles during her career.[17]

On 31 May 1976, she retired from international competition at age 25, following the very successful 1976 season.[18][19][20]

After racing

After her career in sports, Mittermaier joined Mark McCormack's International Management Group as the only German alongside Jean-Claude Killy, Jackie Stewart, and Björn Borg.[21] During her three-year contract, she designed a collection of winter sports clothing and made international appearances for various skiing products.[22] She wrote non-fiction books, often together with her husband.[19] She worked for several charities and occasionally as a commentator for German television for major sporting events. She established a charitable foundation to aid children with rheumatism in 2000.[17][19]

Personal life and death

Mittermaier was born with a twin sister who died at birth. Her younger sister Evi Mittermaier also competed as an alpine skier and previously lived in a hotel.[17] Rosi and Evi also recorded two albums of Bavarian folk songs together.[17]

Mittermaier (r.) and her husband with figure skater Aljona Savchenko in 2018

In 1980 she married Christian Neureuther, winner of six World Cup slalom races.[23] They are the parents of Felix Neureuther (b. 1984), a World Cup ski racer for Germany,[24] and a daughter Ameli who works as a fashion designer.[25]

Mittermaier died because of cancer in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on 4 January 2023, at the age of 72 years.[3][26][27]

Awards

She was an honorary citizen's of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Reit im Winkl.[19]

World Cup results

Season standings

Source:[29]

SeasonAgeOverallSlalomGiant
slalom		Super GDownhillCombined
1967162719—not
run		—not
awarded
19681712118—
19691874115
1970191181012
1971201413915
19722164710
1973224289
197423721311
1975243776
19762511391

Points were only awarded for top ten finishes (see scoring system).

Season titles
SeasonDiscipline
1976Overall
Slalom
Combined

Race victories
  • 10 wins – (1 GS, 8 SL, 1 K)
  • 41 podiums – (4 DH, 11 GS, 22 SL, 4 K)
SeasonDateLocationDiscipline
196916 January 1969Austria Schruns, AustriaSlalom
197014 March 1970Norway Voss, NorwaySlalom
19732 February 1973Austria Schruns, AustriaSlalom
197427 February 1974Italy Abetone, ItalySlalom
8 March 1974Czech Republic Vysoké Tatry, CzechoslovakiaSlalom
197513 December 1974[30]Italy Cortina d'Ampezzo, ItalySlalom
197617 December 1975Combined
22 January 1976Austria Bad Gastein, AustriaSlalom
5 March 1976United States Copper Mountain, United StatesGiant slalom
6 March 1976Slalom

World championship results

Source:[29]

  Year   Age  Slalom Giant
 slalom 		Super-GDownhillCombined
196817DNF220not run25—
197019157205
197221171267
1974236DNFDNF—
1976251211

From 1948 through 1980, the Winter Olympics were also the World Championships for alpine skiing.

At the World Championships from 1954 through 1980, the combined was a "paper race" using the results of the three events (DH, GS, SL).

Olympic results

Source:[12]

  Year   Age  Slalom Giant
 slalom 		Super-GDownhillCombined
196817DNF220not run25not run
19722117126
197625121

Publications

Many of her books were written with her husband Christian Neureuther:[19]

  • Mittermaier, Rosi (1977). Ski-Zirkus : meine 10 Jahre im Hochleistungssport (in German). Frankfurt/M.: Ullstein. ISBN 3-550-17672-4. OCLC 3629220.
  • ——; Neureuther, Christian; Messmann, Kuno (1983). Unser Skibuch. München: Mosaik. ISBN 3-570-00735-9. OCLC 64741076.
  • —— (1994). Gewinnen mit Walking das Original-Rosi-Mittermaier-Walking-Buch (in German). Düsseldorf. ISBN 978-3-7919-0531-0. OCLC 75506562.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • —— (2004). Nordic Walking Ganzjahrestraining - starke Muskeln - gesunde Gelenke - top Kondition - super Figur (in German). München. ISBN 978-3-426-64139-2. OCLC 76551517.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • ——; Bartl, Reiner (2005). Stabile Knochen, mobiles Leben Osteoporose aktiv begegnen, vermeiden, behandeln und beweglich bleiben ; frühzeitige Diagnose und wirksame Therapie ; 3-stufiges Knochenaufbauprogramm mit Rosi Mittermaier (in German). München. ISBN 978-3-426-64277-1. OCLC 181457767.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • ——; Neureuther, Christian; Mittermaier, Rosi (2006). Nordic-Walking-Praxisbuch leichter Einstieg in 7 Schritten mit der Nordic-ALFA-Technik ; für jeden geeignet – rundum gesund (in German). München. ISBN 978-3-426-64341-9. OCLC 163402416.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • ——; Neureuther, Christian; Deutscher Skilehrerverband (2008). Neuer Schwung für alle, die die Freude am Skifahren (wieder) entdecken wollen ; mit allen Skigebieten (D), Loipen, Insidertipps, Checklisten (in German). München. ISBN 978-3-485-01146-4. OCLC 271637893.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • ——; Neureuther, Christian (2008). Die Heilkraft des Sports mit Spaß und Freude mehr Gesundheit (in German). München. ISBN 978-3-485-01130-3. OCLC 227007343.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • ——; Neureuther, Christian (2009). Sicher durch den Skiwinter (in German). München. ISBN 978-3-485-01189-1. OCLC 643238604.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • —— (2011). Fröhlich bin ich sowieso mit 11 Rezepten (in German). München. ISBN 978-3-485-01321-5. OCLC 759529483.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • ——; Neureuther, Christian (2012). Die schönsten Schneeschuhtouren Bayern, Tirol, Salzburger Land (in German). [Luzern]. ISBN 978-3-7243-1043-3. OCLC 774039790.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • ——; Mittermaier, Rosi; Neureuther, Christian (2013). Kraftort Alpen. München. ISBN 978-3-7243-1050-1. OCLC 859342148.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • ——; Neureuther, Christian; Edition Raetia GmbH (2016). Mit Rosi und Christian in Südtirol kulinarische Begegnungen (in German). Bozen. ISBN 978-88-7283-555-5. OCLC 932030791.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

See also

Notes
  1. includes 3 Olympics

References
  1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Rosi Mittermaier". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020.
  2. Leidinger, Saskia (5 January 2023). "Im Alter von 72 Jahren: Skilegende Rosi Mittermaier ist tot". Saarbrücker Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  3. "Wintersport: Trauer – "Gold-Rosi" Mittermaier ist tot" (in German). BR. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  4. Mittermaier, Rosi (2012). Fröhlich bin ich sowieso (in German). München. ISBN 978-3-485-06007-3. OCLC 882493926.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. "Mit 72 Jahren: Ski-Legende Rosi Mittermaier ist tot – Das Erste". MDR.DE (in German). 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  6. "Über 60 Jahre auf der Winklmoosalm". ovb-online.de (in German). 17 March 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  7. "Rosi Mittermaier ist tot – Zweimalige Olympiasiegerin stirbt mit 72". T-Online.de (in German). 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  8. "Mit 72 Jahren: Ski-Legende Rosi Mittermaier ist tot". MDR (in German). 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  9. "Clipping from Star Tribune". Star Tribune. 12 February 1976. p. 33. Retrieved 5 January 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. Johnson, William Oscar (16 February 1976). "On came the heroes". Sports Illustrated. p. 13.
  11. Johnson, William Oscar (23 February 1976). "Opening up those golden gates". Sports Illustrated. p. 12.
  12. "Rosi MITTERMAIER Biography, Olympic Medals, Records and Age". Olympics.com. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  13. "Ski-Olympiasiegerin Rosi Mittermaier ist tot". tagesschau.de (in German). Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  14. "Mittermaier wins World Cup". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. 7 March 1976. p. 3B.
  15. "Rosi has run named for her". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. 8 March 1976. p. 20.
  16. Looney, Douglas S. (15 March 1976). "Adding a title to a triumph". Sports Illustrated. p. 18.
  17. Cazeneuve, Brian (18 February 2012). "2002 Winter Olympics – SI Daily: Where are they now? Rosi Mittermaier". CNNSI. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  18. "'Grandma' Rosi out of racing". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. 1 June 1976. p. 21.
  19. "Rosi Mittermaier vollendet 70. Lebensjahr". Der Deutsche Olympische Sportbund (in German). 5 August 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  20. "Rosi Mittermaier Weighs Retirement". The New York Times. 25 March 1976. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  21. "Ich habe ja nichts Großes vollbracht". Die Zeit (in German). No. 48. 17 December 1976. pp. 194–196. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  22. "Die Millionen der Slalome". No. 48. 21 November 1976. pp. 194–196.
  23. "Tod von Rosi Mittermaier: So war die Skilegende "Gold-Rosi" zu Lebzeiten". Stuttgarter Nachrichten (in German). 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  24. "Rosi Mittermaier ist tot: Ski-Olympiasiegerin stirbt nach Krankheit". Süddeutsche.de (in German). 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  25. Hörmann, Andi (25 December 2013). "Skizirkus gegen die schillernde Modewelt getauscht". Deutschlandfunk Kultur (in German). Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  26. "Olympic skiing champion Rosi Mittermaier dies at 72". AP NEWS (in German). 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  27. "Markus Wasmeier über Rosi Mittermaier: "Rosi war positiv. Bis zum Schluss"". stern.de (in German). 9 January 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  28. "Rosi Mittermaier". Hall of Fame (in German). Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  29. "MITTERMAIER Rosi – Athlete Information". fis. 23 October 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  30. "Clipping from The Gazette". The Gazette. 14 December 1974. p. 45. Retrieved 5 January 2023 – via Newspapers.com.

Further reading

Biographies
  • Suttner, Jupp (1976). Rosi Mittermaier (in German). München: Copress Verl. ISBN 3-7679-0103-X. OCLC 631615557.
  • Lavall, Kurt (1976). Gold-Rosi, Skikönigin von Innsbruck (in German). Würzburg. ISBN 978-3-401-01288-9. OCLC 74403404.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

Obituaries
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