Egon Zimmermann

Egon Zimmermann

Egon Zimmermann (born 8 February 1939 in Lech am Arlberg or Innsbruck, Austria [http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/zi/egon-n-zimmermann-1.html Sports References.com] ] ) is a former alpine skier from Austria. Zimmerman was an Olympic medalist and won several medals on the professional tour in the late 50s and early 60s.

Early life

Zimmermann was raised on a farm near Lech, with two brothers. Lech blossomed into a ski resort in the time that he was growing up, his family converted their farm house into a pensione. His childhood coincided with the World War II post-war poverty of Austria, so not only did Zimmermann have no formal training, but his skis were often "fourth or fifth-hand." At 15, his father forced him to learn a trade, and he schooled in a Parisian chef program. He returned to Austria by 18 and won a clean sweep of the 1958 Junior Championships. When he was promoted to the National team, Zimmermann commented "For me it was also the realization of a childhood dream, a dream interrupted by a kitchen."

Career peak and Olympics

At 21, Zimmermann competed at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, but managed to place only tenth after a shoulder injury. He is often confused with Egon Zimmermann II, who won the Gold in Downhill in 1964, and some of the references below may not be accurate.

He swept the 1962 Chamonix Championships, and was named the "Skier of the Year" in 1963 by European journalists.

For the 1964 Olympics, the "dashing" and "handsome" [http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1135279/index.htm A Fight For Life By The Home Team, Sports Illustrated, 1-27-64] ] Zimmermann was heavily favored to win. However, the course was quite difficult (nicknamed the "Course of Fear"), but he still managed to win by only .74 seconds. Despite not sweeping the events, he appeared on the cover of "Sports Illustrated" magazine. [ [http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1075615/index.htm Russian Blades And Fast French Skis, Sports Illustrated, 2-10-64] ]

Personal life

After meeting at the 1958 World Championships in Kitzbuhel, he married American skiing champion Penny Pitou in 1961. After having two children, they settled in New Hampshire. He opened a ski shop and started several ski schools in the area. [ [http://www.zimsport.com/ Egon Zimmermann Sport Chalet] ]

In 1968, Zimmerman and Pitou divorced when he returned to his native Tyrol, where he is a hotel owner. [ [http://aeiou.iicm.tugraz.at/aeiou.encyclop.z/z577405.htm;internal&action=_setlanguage.action?LANGUAGE=en AEIOU Encyclopedia] ] A store which he started in Nashua, New Hampshire still bears his name.

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Egon Zimmermann — Nation Osterreich  Österreich …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Egon Zimmermann I — Egon Zimmermann Nation Osterreich  Österreich …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Egon Zimmermann — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Zimmermann. Egon Zimmermann, né le 8 février 1939 à Lech am Arlberg, est un skieur alpin autrichien membre du Ski Club de l Arlberg. Sommaire 1 Jeux olympiques …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Zimmermann (Familienname) — Zimmermann ist ein deutscher Familienname. Herkunft und Bedeutung Der Familienname Zimmermann ist abgeleitet von dem Beruf des Zimmermanns. Häufigkeit Der Name Zimmermann belegt Platz 20 auf der Liste der häufigsten Familiennamen in Deutschland …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Zimmermann — Sur les autres projets Wikimedia : « Zimmermann », sur le Wiktionnaire (dictionnaire universel)  Pour les articles homophones, voir Zimerman et Zimmerman …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Walter Zimmermann (Jurist) — Walter Zimmermann (* 9. April 1941 in Passau) ist ein deutscher Jurist und Rechtswissenschaftler. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Leben 2 Publikationen (Buchform) 3 Aufsätze (Auswahl, 2007–2010) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Liste der Biografien/Zi — Biografien: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Liste der Weltmeister im Alpinen Skisport — Anja Pärson ist die erfolgreichste aktive WM Teilnehmerin und gewann als einzige Weltmeistertitel in allen fünf Ski Disziplinen Die Liste der Weltmeister im Alpinen Skisport listet alle Sieger sowie die Zweit und Drittplatzierten bei den Alpinen… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Liste des médaillés aux Championnats du monde de ski alpin — Sommaire 1 Compétitions 1.1 Hommes 1.1.1 Descente hommes 1.1.2 Super G hommes 1.1.3 Slalom géant hom …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Liste des médaillés et médaillées aux Championnats du monde de ski alpin — Liste des médaillés aux Championnats du monde de ski alpin Sommaire 1 Compétitions 1.1 Hommes 1.1.1 Descente hommes 1.1.2 Super G hommes …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”