Alpine skiing at the 1948 Winter Olympics
The V. 1948 Olympic Games in St. Moritz six competitions were held in Alpine skiing. The race took place in the area Corviglia. The top three finishers in the downhill, slalom, and in combination were given in addition to the Olympic medals and World Championship medals, as these competitions were also among the 10 Alpine World Ski Championships.
- 2.1 Departure
- 2.2 slalom
- 2.3 combination
Departure
Date: February 2, 10:00 clock Start: 2700 m, target: 1870 m Difference in altitude: 830 m, distance: 3371 m
111 riders from 25 countries were at the start, 102 of them reached the goal. The course also counted for the Alpine combined.
The Swiss Karl Molitor, a six-time and thus still record winner of the Lauberhorn downhill, was one of the big favorites in the men's downhill. He drove under absolute control a technically safe race and came out with a new best time to the finish. Shortly thereafter began the Frenchman Henri Oreiller. This mastered the difficulties of the steep slope without significantly slowing down and has already resulted in the meantime with five seconds he were not returned to the finish. The Austrian Franz Gabl succeeded still push forward to the second place and Ralph Olinger took the same time as a second bronze medal Molitor for Switzerland.
Slalom
Date: February 5 9:00 clock Start: 2090 m, target: 1870 m Difference in altitude: 220 m Goals: 47 ( 1st run )
76 riders were at the start, 66 of them reached the goal.
Eliminated inter alia: Christian Pravda (AUT )
The fastest time in the first run scored Silvio Alverà, closely followed by the Frenchman James Couttet. After Karl Molitor remained nearly three seconds slower than expected, hoped the Swiss to Edi Reinalter, who scored the third-best run time. The two-time Olympic champion Henri Oreiller was also close to the top, the rest of the field was clearly defeated in the first run. Oreiller Alverà could still overtake the second run and ultimately won bronze. After Couttet had taken over the top with a run of 63.3 seconds, put the St. Moritz Edi Reinalter to the fastest time of 62.6 seconds and won another gold medal for Switzerland.
Combination
Departure: February 2, 10:00 clock Slalom: February 4 9:00 clock
79 riders were at the start, 67 of them reached the goal. The competition consisted of departure, which was held jointly with the specialists, and a separate Combination Slalom together.
When combined slalom of the men was the big question is whether it would succeed Karl Molitor to make up for his five seconds behind the winner Henri Oreiller departure. However, he succeeded no exception performance and so Oreiller could win with two safe rides his second gold medal. The Frenchman James Couttet, fastest in combination slalom, still came in the alpine combined to third place.
Women
Departure
Date: February 2, 14:30 clock Start: 2394 m, target: 1870 m Difference in altitude: 524 m, distance: 2135 m
37 riders were at the start, all crossed the finish line. The women's downhill was carried out immediately after the race of men on the same route. However, 15 competitive goals prevented translated speeds and greater difficulties, so it was all about a giant slalom.
The first favorite of the Austrian Trude Beiser could deal with race number 5 at the top. Right behind her drove the be encountered as an outsider Swiss Hedy Schlunegger. This fell at the entrance to the gun barrel, but could continue the journey with little loss of time and reached the target in a new best time. Neither Resi Hammerer, nor Celina Seghi or Laila Schou Nilsen, arrived at the port closer to their time and thus secured Schlunegger Switzerland's first big alpine success.
Slalom
Date: February 5, 10:00 clock Start: 2050 m, target: 1870 m Difference in altitude: 180 m Goals: 35 ( 1st run )
28 riders were at the start, 24 of them reached the goal.
After the first run of the women led to the surprise of the U.S. American Gretchen Fraser, just ahead of Erika Mahringer from Austria, which also reached a maturity of less than one minute. A second residue had the Swiss Antoinette Meyer and Georgette Thiollière from France. The other riders were clearly distanced. The decision was then at the beginning of the second run, as Fraser with a technically clean driving scored a run time of 57.5 sec. This time was only undercut by Antoinette Meyer with 57.0 sec, what the Swiss second place before Erika Mahringer earned, the overall victory of the American but not impaired.
Combination
Departure: February 2, 14:30 clock Slalom: February 4, 10:00 clock
28 riders were at the start, 27 of them reached the goal. The competition consisted of departure, which was held jointly with the specialists, and a separate Combination Slalom together.
In contrast to the men's achieved by Hedy Schlunegger in the downhill edge and skills in slalom were too small to be a combination victory seemed possible. After the big favorite in the slalom, the Italian Celina Seghi, remained below their usual performance and was fourth, took the Austrian Trude Beiser the gold medal. Her teammate Erika Mahringer won the slalom and combination so bronze in the combination. The second place went unexpectedly to the U.S. American Gretchen Fraser.