Josef Bradl
Encyclopedia
Josef "Sepp" / "Bubi" Bradl (January 8, 1918 – March 3, 1982) was an Austria
n ski jumper
who competed during the 1930s and 1950s. He was born in Wasserburg am Inn
, Bavaria
. He won the ski jumping gold medal at the 1939 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
in Zakopane
while competing under Nazi Germany
in the wake of Austria
being annexed in late 1938. He was the first man to perform a "flight" of more than 100 meters, on March 5, 1936, in Planica
, Slovenia
.
Following World War II
, Bradl returned to competition in the early 1950s and was the first winner of the Four Hills Tournament
in 1952/53, this time representing his home country of Austria. He would earn one of his post-World War 2 victories at the Olympia hill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
, West Germany in 1953 as part of the Four Hills tournament, then earn his final career victory the following year in Bischofshofen
, Austria.
After retiring he was a ski jumping coach, coaching the national teams of Germany and 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...
n ski jumper
Ski jumping
Ski jumping is a sport in which skiers go down a take-off ramp, jump and attempt to land as far as possible down the hill below. In addition to the length of the jump, judges give points for style. The skis used for ski jumping are wide and long...
who competed during the 1930s and 1950s. He was born in Wasserburg am Inn
Wasserburg am Inn
Wasserburg am Inn is a town in the district Rosenheim in Upper Bavaria, Germany. The historic centre is a peninsula, formed by the meandering Inn River...
, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
. He won the ski jumping gold medal at the 1939 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
1939 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 1939 took place February 11-19, 1939 in Zakopane, Poland. This was the Polish city's second time hosting the championships after having done so in 1929...
in Zakopane
Zakopane
Zakopane , is a town in southern Poland. It lies in the southern part of the Podhale region at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. From 1975 to 1998 it was in of Nowy Sącz Province, but since 1999 it has been in Lesser Poland Province. It had a population of about 28,000 as of 2004. Zakopane is a...
while competing under Nazi Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in the wake of 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...
being annexed in late 1938. He was the first man to perform a "flight" of more than 100 meters, on March 5, 1936, in Planica
Planica
Planica is an alpine valley in northwestern Slovenia, extending south from the border village of Rateče, not far from another well-known ski resort, Kranjska Gora. Further south, the valley extends into the Tamar Valley, a popular hiking destination in Triglav National Park.Planica is famous for...
, Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
.
Following 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...
, Bradl returned to competition in the early 1950s and was the first winner of the Four Hills Tournament
Four Hills Tournament
The Four Hills Tournament is composed of four Ski Jumping World Cup events and has taken place in Germany and Austria each year since 1952.The Four Hills Tournament champion is the one who gets the most points over the four events...
in 1952/53, this time representing his home country of Austria. He would earn one of his post-World War 2 victories at the Olympia hill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a mountain resort town in Bavaria, southern Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the Oberbayern region, and the district is on the border with Austria...
, West Germany in 1953 as part of the Four Hills tournament, then earn his final career victory the following year in Bischofshofen
Bischofshofen
Bischofshofen is a city located in the Salzach valley in the Alps, in the District of Pongau, in Salzburgerland, Austria.The city is an important railway hub and lies at the Tauernautobahn, a highway route through the Alps....
, Austria.
After retiring he was a ski jumping coach, coaching the national teams of Germany and Austria.