Lea Sölkner
Lea Sölkner - Schramek ( born December 24, 1958 in Tauplitz ) is a former Austrian alpine skier. It belonged to the late 1970s until her retirement in 1984 the most successful racers of the Austrian Ski Federation and in 1978 became World Champion in slalom.
Career
Sölkner came through her father, who was a ski instructor, early to skiing. First achievements came in junior race when she in her age group champion in slalom Austrian students and 1974 Austrian Junior Champion in downhill in 1969. Her first victory in the European Cup in 1975 she succeeded in the departure of Aprica and with three other podium finishes, she was seventh in the overall standings.
The first start in the World Cup had Sölkner on January 17, 1976 in the Slalom in Berchtesgaden, their first points they took five days later finished fourth in combination of Bad Gastein. On December 11, 1976, she came second place in the giant slalom in Courmayeur for the first time on the podium. In 1977, she won her first of three Austrian Cup titles, on 22 January 1978 she succeeded in slalom in Maribor, another World Cup podium.
The greatest success of her career was celebrating Sölkner at the 1978 World Cup in Garmisch -Partenkirchen. Surprisingly won the then 19 -year-old slalom on Gudiberg before the Germans Pamela Behr and the Austrian Monika Kaserer and became world champion. In the giant slalom, she took eleventh place. Shortly after the World Cup, they came in the World Cup slalom in Saint- Gervais- les- Bains to second place.
Your first and only World Cup victory celebrated Sölkner on January 23, 1979 in the Slalom race of the Gold Key of Schruns. So she was in the 1978/79 season third in the slalom World Cup. The following winter she initially did not reach top positions. Also at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid it was unsuccessful. In slalom, she fell out in the first run, in the giant slalom she did not start in the second round. Your best result it reached in March with fifth place in the slalom in Vysoke Tatry.
Since they no longer provided their earlier achievements in the technical disciplines, she focused more on the descent in which they already came in the 1980/81 season twice in the top ten. On 21 December 1981 she was with second place in the combination of Saint- Gervais- les- Bains on the podium again, two more top-three results you get in January 1982 in the downhill, and in combination of Bad Gastein. In the overall World Cup and downhill World Cup they reached by each sixth place their best results. However, in the 1982 World Cup in Schladming they only came on the 14th place in the slalom and 22nd place in the downhill.
At the beginning of the 1982/83 season Sölkner came in the downhill in Val d'Isere to second place, but managed after just another top ten result. In winter 1983/84 could be increased again and came in the downhill in Val d'Isere to third place and in the combination of Sestriere in second place. But with the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, they finished only eighth descent rank in slalom she was disqualified in the first round out. After the season Sölkner ended her athletic career.
Sporting successes
Olympic Winter Games
- Sarajevo 1984: 8 Departure
World Championships
- Garmisch -Partenkirchen 1978: 1 Slalom, Giant Slalom 11
- Schladming 1982: 14 Slalom, 22 departure
World Cup
- 1975/76 season 9 Combination results
- 1976/ 77: 7 Giant Slalom rating
- 1977/ 78: 9 Overall World Cup, 5th slalom standings, 7 giant slalom rating
- Season 1978/79: 3rd slalom rating
- 1979/ 80: 10 slalom rating
- Season 1981/82: 6 Overall World Cup, 4th combined score, 6 departure rating
- 1982/83 season 9 departure rating
- Season 1983/84: 6 combined score, 9 exit summary
- Ten podiums, including a win (slalom in Schruns on January 23, 1979)
European Cup
- Season 1974/75: 7th overall, 6th slalom rating
- 1977/ 78: 3rd overall, 2nd slalom rating
- Four wins and four third places
Austrian Championships
Lea Sölkner was three times Austrian Champion: