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