Egon Zimmermann
Encyclopedia
Egon Zimmermann often referred to as Egon Zimmermann II, is a former alpine skier
from Austria
. Zimmermann was an Olympic medalist and won several medals on the professional tour in the late 60s and early 70s.
He is often confused with Egon Zimmermann I (born 19 February 1933 in Innsbruck
), who competed in the Alpine World Ski Championships 1958 and in the 1960 Winter Olympics
.
, 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 Paris
ian 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."
For the 1964 Olympics, the "dashing" and "handsome" 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.
.
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
from Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. Zimmermann was an Olympic medalist and won several medals on the professional tour in the late 60s and early 70s.
He is often confused with Egon Zimmermann I (born 19 February 1933 in Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
), who competed in the Alpine World Ski Championships 1958 and in the 1960 Winter Olympics
1960 Winter Olympics
The 1960 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VIII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event held between February 18 and 28, 1960 in Squaw Valley, California, United States. In 1955 at the 50th IOC meeting, the organizing committee made the surprise choice to award Squaw Valley as...
.
Early life
Zimmermann was raised on a farm near LechLech am Arlberg
Lech am Arlberg is a mountain village and an exclusive ski resort in the Bludenz district of Vorarlberg, in western Austria, on the banks of the river Lech. In terms of both geography and history, Lech belongs to the Tannberg district...
, 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
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
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 Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
ian chef
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
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
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" 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
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
magazine.
Personal life
He is a hotel owner in Lech am Arlberg. Zimmermann suffers from multiple sclerosisMultiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
.