Stephan Eberharter

Stephan ("Steff") Eberharter (born March 24, 1969) is an Austrian skier, born in Brixlegg, who won the World Cup (overall) title in 2002 and 2003. He was arguably the closest rival of compatriot Hermann Maier in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He has now retired from the sport.

Career

Eberharter made his debut in the World Cup event during the 1989-1990 season where he finished 32nd. Particularly successful in the downhill event, he progressed to finishing third in the 1997-1998 season and then runner-up in 2000-2001. His nemesis Hermann Maier was then involved in a motorcycle accident, and Eberharter went on to take the World Cup (overall) in 2002 and 2003. His 2004 victory at the Hahnenkamm downhill in Kitzbühel with a lead of 1.21 seconds over runner-up Daron Rahlves is often regarded as one of the most impressive downhill victories in alpine skiing history.

Eberharter has enjoyed success at the World Championships and Olympic Games as well. In 1991 in Saalbach, he won two gold medals in the Super-G and Combined events. Twelve years later at St. Moritz in 2003, he took gold in the Super-G event again. At the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, he finished second in the Giant Slalom, but went on to take gold in the same event at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

World Cup results

Overall

Individual victories

External links

* [http://www.steff.at/wDeutsch/index.shtml?navid=1 Official website] "(in German)"