Martin Braxenthaler
Encyclopedia
Martin Braxenthaler is a German
monoski
er and Paralympian
. He has participated in alpine skiing
at four Winter Paralympic Games, in 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010. He won a bronze medal at the 1998 Winter Paralympics
, four golds at the 2002 Games
, three more golds at the 2006 Torino Paralympics
and three golds and one silver at the 2010 Vancouver Paralympics
.
In 2007 he was named the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsperson with a Disability of the Year and won the Sitting element of the IPC Disabled Alpine World Cup
. At the 2010 Winter Paralympics
, Braxenthaler won three gold, as well as one silver medal.
When asked about being "the most successful mono-skier in the history of the Paralympic movement", Braxenthaler replied: "Great success is often just measured by the colour of the medal. From this perspective, I guess I could be considered the most successful athlete. But success is about more than just medals, and so to being the most successful athlete overall- that's for others to decide."
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...
monoski
Monoski
The term monoski may refer to either of two unrelated pieces of ski equipment. It is the device used in the sport of monoskiing.The monoski, invented in the 1960s and popularized in the 1970s and '80s by monoskiers like Mike Doyle, is similar to a snowboard in that both feet are attached to one...
er and Paralympian
Paralympian
A Paralympian is an athlete who has participated in the Paralympic Games.A Paralympic athlete has a physical disability. The disability can be amputation, spinal cord injuries, visual impairment or cerebral palsy. An exception is the sighted guides for athletes with a visual impairment...
. He has participated in alpine skiing
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...
at four Winter Paralympic Games, in 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010. He won a bronze medal at the 1998 Winter Paralympics
1998 Winter Paralympics
The 1998 Winter Paralympics, the seventh Winter Paralympics, were held alongside the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan from March 5 to March 14, 1998. They were the first Paralympic Winter Games to be held outside Europe.- Sports :...
, four golds at the 2002 Games
2002 Winter Paralympics
The 2002 Winter Paralympics, the eighth Winter Paralympics, were held in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, from March 7 to March 16, 2002. A total of 416 athletes from 36 nations participated....
, three more golds at the 2006 Torino Paralympics
2006 Winter Paralympics
The 2006 Winter Paralympic Games, the ninth Winter Paralympics, took place in Turin, Italy from 10 to 19 March 2006. These were the first Winter Paralympic Games to be held in Italy. They were also the first Paralympics to use the new paralympics logo....
and three golds and one silver at the 2010 Vancouver Paralympics
2010 Winter Paralympics
The 2010 Winter Paralympics, officially the X Paralympic Winter Games, or the 10th Winter Paralympics, were held in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, Canada from March 12 to 21, 2010. The Opening Ceremony took place in BC Place Stadium in Vancouver and the Closing Ceremony in Whistler...
.
In 2007 he was named the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsperson with a Disability of the Year and won the Sitting element of the IPC Disabled Alpine World Cup
IPC Disabled Alpine World Cup
The IPC Disabled Alpine Skiing World Cup is an annual circuit of elite disabled alpine skiing competitions, regulated by the International Paralympic Committee and the International Ski Federation ....
. At the 2010 Winter Paralympics
2010 Winter Paralympics
The 2010 Winter Paralympics, officially the X Paralympic Winter Games, or the 10th Winter Paralympics, were held in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, Canada from March 12 to 21, 2010. The Opening Ceremony took place in BC Place Stadium in Vancouver and the Closing Ceremony in Whistler...
, Braxenthaler won three gold, as well as one silver medal.
When asked about being "the most successful mono-skier in the history of the Paralympic movement", Braxenthaler replied: "Great success is often just measured by the colour of the medal. From this perspective, I guess I could be considered the most successful athlete. But success is about more than just medals, and so to being the most successful athlete overall- that's for others to decide."