Penny Pitou
Encyclopedia
Penelope Theresa 'Penny' Pitou (born October 8, 1938) is a former United States Olympic alpine skier
, who in 1960 became the first American skier to win a medal in the Olympic downhill
event. In 2001, Pitou was inducted into the New England
Women's Sports Hall of Fame.
Penny Pitou moved with her family from New York to Center Harbor, New Hampshire
at the age of three. There she began skiing on a hill in her backyard, later progressing to the nearby Gilford
Outing Club and Belknap Mountain
(now Gunstock
) ski areas. By the age of 15 Penny and her family moved to Laconia, New Hampshire
, where she graduated from Laconia High School in 1956.
As a freshman at Laconia High in 1953, she ignored the no-girls-rule and tried out for the boys' ski team. "I hid my hair under my hat and asked my friends to call me Tommy," she said. "I made the team and everything went great until I competed in a downhill race at New Hampton School
. I crashed in front of a gate-keeper, my hat flew off and my hair came down. It's one of the few times in my life that I was at a loss for words."
Her ski career continued apace however, and at the age of seventeen she was first selected for the U.S. Olympics Ski Team. Her self-described Olympic mentor, 1952 double-medalist Andrea Mead Lawrence, encouraged Penny to continue working on her skiing after a disappointing performance in the 1956 Games in Italy. Her perseverance paid off in 1960, when Pitou won silver medals for second place in both the Downhill
and Giant Slalom events at the 1960 Olympics in Squaw Valley, California
.
As an interesting aside, Ms Pitou appeared as a mystery contestant on "What's My Line".
After her competitive career ended, Pitou married Austria
n alpine skier Egon Zimmermann I. The couple settled in New Hampshire. Pitou continues to be active in the ski community, and runs a travel company through which she leads ski groups to various European resorts.
Pitou was seen on the week of December 3, 2007 with New York Senator
Hillary Clinton in preparation for the New Hampshire primary for the 2008 American presidential election. Senator Clinton claimed she learned to ski from Pitou.
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...
, who in 1960 became the first American skier to win a medal in the Olympic downhill
Downhill
Downhill is an alpine skiing discipline. The rules for the Downhill were originally developed by Sir Arnold Lunn for the 1921 British National Ski Championships....
event. In 2001, Pitou was inducted into the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
Women's Sports Hall of Fame.
Penny Pitou moved with her family from New York to Center Harbor, New Hampshire
Center Harbor, New Hampshire
Center Harbor is a town located in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 1,096, a number which multiplies severalfold during the summer months. It is situated between Lake Winnipesaukee and Squam Lake.- History :Center Harbor...
at the age of three. There she began skiing on a hill in her backyard, later progressing to the nearby Gilford
Gilford, New Hampshire
Gilford is a town in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 7,126 at the 2010 census. Situated on Lake Winnipesaukee, Gilford is home to Governors Island, Ellacoya State Beach, Belknap Mountain State Forest, Gunstock Mountain Ski Resort, and Meadowbrook U.S...
Outing Club and Belknap Mountain
Belknap Mountain
-Belknap Mountain is a mountain located in Belknap County, New Hampshire, south of Lake Winnipesaukee. Like the county, the mountain and the associated Belknap Mountains are named after Jeremy Belknap , a renowned preacher, historian, and author of The History of New Hampshire.The peak of Belknap Mtn...
(now Gunstock
Gunstock Mountain Resort
Gunstock Mountain Resort is a sports complex located on Gunstock Mountain in Gilford, New Hampshire, and is owned by Belknap County. Activities include alpine and cross-country skiing, snow tubing, ski jumping, snowshoeing, hiking, swimming, and skateboarding.-History:The original Gunstock...
) ski areas. By the age of 15 Penny and her family moved to Laconia, New Hampshire
Laconia, New Hampshire
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,411 people, 6,724 households, and 4,168 families residing in the city. The population density was 809.3 people per square mile . There were 8,554 housing units at an average density of 421.8 per square mile...
, where she graduated from Laconia High School in 1956.
As a freshman at Laconia High in 1953, she ignored the no-girls-rule and tried out for the boys' ski team. "I hid my hair under my hat and asked my friends to call me Tommy," she said. "I made the team and everything went great until I competed in a downhill race at New Hampton School
New Hampton School
New Hampton School is an independent college preparatory high school located in New Hampton, New Hampshire, in the New England region of the northeastern United States...
. I crashed in front of a gate-keeper, my hat flew off and my hair came down. It's one of the few times in my life that I was at a loss for words."
Her ski career continued apace however, and at the age of seventeen she was first selected for the U.S. Olympics Ski Team. Her self-described Olympic mentor, 1952 double-medalist Andrea Mead Lawrence, encouraged Penny to continue working on her skiing after a disappointing performance in the 1956 Games in Italy. Her perseverance paid off in 1960, when Pitou won silver medals for second place in both the Downhill
Downhill
Downhill is an alpine skiing discipline. The rules for the Downhill were originally developed by Sir Arnold Lunn for the 1921 British National Ski Championships....
and Giant Slalom events at the 1960 Olympics in Squaw Valley, California
Squaw Valley Ski Resort
Squaw Valley Ski Resort in Olympic Valley, California, is one of the largest ski areas in the United States, and was the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. It is the second-largest ski area at Lake Tahoe , with 33 chairlifts, and has the only funitel lift in the U.S...
.
As an interesting aside, Ms Pitou appeared as a mystery contestant on "What's My Line".
After her competitive career ended, Pitou married 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 alpine skier Egon Zimmermann I. The couple settled in New Hampshire. Pitou continues to be active in the ski community, and runs a travel company through which she leads ski groups to various European resorts.
Pitou was seen on the week of December 3, 2007 with New York Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Hillary Clinton in preparation for the New Hampshire primary for the 2008 American presidential election. Senator Clinton claimed she learned to ski from Pitou.