Jean Saubert
Encyclopedia
Jean Marlene Saubert (May 1, 1942 – May 14, 2007) was a competitive alpine skier
from the United States
. She won two medals in the 1964 Winter Olympics
at Innsbruck, Austria. After graduating from college, Saubert become a teacher. She died in 2007.
on May 1, 1942, Saubert grew up in Cascadia
. She learned to ski at Hoodoo Butte
and raced competitively at Mount Hood
and Mount Bachelor
. She graduated from Lakeview High School
in 1960.
Olympic team. Her first international skiing competition was the 1962 World Ski Championships
in Chamonix, France, where she finished sixth in the giant slalom. In 1963 and 1964, she was the United States downhill skiing and giant slalom national champion, also winning the slalom
and Alpine combined national championships in 1964. She would win a total of 8 U.S. championships in her skiing career.
At the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, Saubert won a bronze medal
in the slalom and a silver medal
in the giant slalom, losing only to French
skiing sisters Christine
and Marielle Goitschel
. Saubert was the only multiple medal winner for the United States in those Olympics, and her medals represented two of the six medals won by the entire United States
team. Two years later, Saubert finished fourth in the slalom at the 1966 World Ski Championships
in Portillo, Chile
.
in 1966. She joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and earned a master's degree at Brigham Young University
. While in Utah
, she taught physical education training and worked as a ski instructor for several years before moving back to Oregon, where she taught elementary school in Hillsboro
.
She was inducted into the United States National Ski Hall of Fame in 1976 and the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
in 1983. She was chosen to be one of the torchbearers for the 2002 Winter Olympics
in Salt Lake City, Utah
.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer
in 2001, and died of the disease in Bigfork, Montana
on May 14, 2007.
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 the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She won two medals in the 1964 Winter Olympics
1964 Winter Olympics
The 1964 Winter Olympics, officially known as the IX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Innsbruck, Austria, from January 29 to February 9, 1964...
at Innsbruck, Austria. After graduating from college, Saubert become a teacher. She died in 2007.
Early life
Born in Roseburg, OregonRoseburg, Oregon
Roseburg is a city in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is the county seat of Douglas County. The population was 21,181 at the 2010 census.-History:...
on May 1, 1942, Saubert grew up in Cascadia
Cascadia, Oregon
Cascadia is an unincorporated community that was established in 1892 on the South Santiam River, east of the current city of Sweet Home, in Linn County, Oregon, United States. Originally a stage stop on the Santiam Wagon Road, then a summer resort also known as Cascadia Mineral Springs, Cascadia...
. She learned to ski at Hoodoo Butte
Hoodoo Butte
Hoodoo Butte is a cinder cone butte in the Cascade Range of northern Oregon, located near Santiam Pass just west of the Cascade Crest. A ski area, also named Hoodoo, is located on the northwest through northeast flanks of the cone, and the summit area includes the top stations of two chairlifts...
and raced competitively at Mount Hood
Mount Hood
Mount Hood, called Wy'east by the Multnomah tribe, is a stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc of northern Oregon. It was formed by a subduction zone and rests in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States...
and Mount Bachelor
Mount Bachelor
Mount Bachelor, formerly named Bachelor Butte, is a stratovolcano atop a shield volcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc and the Cascade Range of central Oregon.The Mount Bachelor ski area has operated on the mountain since 1958....
. She graduated from Lakeview High School
Lakeview High School (Oregon)
Lakeview High School is a public high school in Lakeview, Oregon, United States.-Academics:In 2008, 91% of the school's seniors received their high school diploma. Of 79 students, 72 graduated and 7 dropped out.- Athletics :...
in 1960.
National and world championships and Olympics
In 1962, Saubert earned a spot on the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Olympic team. Her first international skiing competition was the 1962 World Ski Championships
FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1962
The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1962 were held in Chamonix, France between February 10–18, 1962.Chamonix hosted the event in 1937, and also the first Winter Olympics in 1924, but without alpine skiing.-External links:...
in Chamonix, France, where she finished sixth in the giant slalom. In 1963 and 1964, she was the United States downhill skiing and giant slalom national champion, also winning the slalom
Slalom skiing
Slalom is an alpine skiing discipline, involving skiing between poles spaced much closer together than in Giant Slalom, Super-G or Downhill, thereby causing quicker and shorter turns.- Origins :...
and Alpine combined national championships in 1964. She would win a total of 8 U.S. championships in her skiing career.
At the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, Saubert won a bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
in the slalom and a silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
in the giant slalom, losing only to French
France at the 1964 Winter Olympics
-Medalists:- Alpine skiing:MenMen's slalomWomen- Biathlon:Men1Two minutes added per miss.- Cross-country skiing:MenMen's 4 x 10 km relay- Figure skating:MenWomen- Speed skating:MenWomen-References:***...
skiing sisters Christine
Christine Goitschel
Christine Béranger-Goitschel is a former French alpine skier. Christine is the older sister of fellow champion skier of the time, Marielle Goitschel and the aunt of former speed skier Philippe Goitschel....
and Marielle Goitschel
Marielle Goitschel
Marielle Goitschel is a former French alpine skier. Marielle is the younger sister of Christine Goitschel, another champion skier of the time, and the aunt of current speed skier Philippe Goitschel....
. Saubert was the only multiple medal winner for the United States in those Olympics, and her medals represented two of the six medals won by the entire United States
United States at the 1964 Winter Olympics
The United States competed at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria.- Medalists :- Alpine skiing:MenMen's slalomWomen- Biathlon:Men1Two minutes added per miss.- Bobsleigh:- Cross-country skiing:Men...
team. Two years later, Saubert finished fourth in the slalom at the 1966 World Ski Championships
FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1966
The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1966 were held in Portillo, Chile, from August 4–14, 1966.To this day, it remains as the only alpine world championship contested in the southern hemisphere...
in Portillo, Chile
Portillo, Chile
Portillo is a ski resort located from Santiago, Chile, near the city of Los Andes. It rises 2880 meters above sea level and its highest point reaches 3332 meters above sea level. Ski Portillo has 23 ski trails and 12 lifts....
.
Post-competition life
Saubert returned to Oregon and graduated from Oregon State UniversityOregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
in 1966. She joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and earned a master's degree at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
. While in Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, she taught physical education training and worked as a ski instructor for several years before moving back to Oregon, where she taught elementary school in Hillsboro
Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
.
She was inducted into the United States National Ski Hall of Fame in 1976 and the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
The Oregon Sports Hall of Fame honors Oregon athletes, teams, coaches, and others who have made a significant contribution to sports in Oregon. The first class was inducted in 1980, with new inductees added in the fall...
in 1983. She was chosen to be one of the torchbearers for the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
in Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
in 2001, and died of the disease in Bigfork, Montana
Bigfork, Montana
Bigfork is a census-designated place in Flathead County, Montana, United States. The population was 1,421 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bigfork is located at ....
on May 14, 2007.