Helmut Thaler

Helmut Thaler (born 22 January 1940 in Imst ) is a former Austrian luger.

Thaler launched for the toboggan club Imst. He was in the 1960s, the most successful racing sledders and walked to both the individual as well as in doubles. In 1961 he won with Herbert Thaler behind Reinhold Frosch / Ewald Walch in Garmisch -Partenkirchen at the Luge World Cup silver medal. A year later he was with Reinhold Senn third in Girenbad. At the Olympic Winter Games in 1964 in Innsbruck Thaler won the silver medal at the side behind Josef Senn Feistmantl and Manfred Stengl the first luge competition of the Olympic Games. At the European Championships 1967, winning another silver medal for the duo Thaler / Mountain behind Feistmantl and Wilhelm Unterbichl was added. At the 1968 Olympic Winter Games in Grenoble Thaler started in single-seat and reached the 14th place. 1966, 1967 and 1968, he won the Austrian championship in doubles. After his playing career, he was from 1973 to 1988 coach of the Austrian Luge National Team.