Alpine skiing at the Winter Olympics facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alpine skiing at the Winter Olympics |
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| Governing body | FIS |
| Events | 11 (men: 5; women: 5; mixed: 1) |
| Games | |
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Alpine skiing is a thrilling winter sport where athletes race down snowy mountains on skis. It has been a popular event at every Winter Olympics since it first appeared in 1936 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.
At first, there was only one event called the combined, which tested skiers in multiple skills. Over the years, more exciting events were added, making it one of the most-watched sports at the Games. Countries from the Alps, like Austria, are often the best at this sport. Austria has won the most medals, with an amazing 128 in total!
Contents
The Story of Olympic Skiing
When Alpine skiing started at the Olympics in 1936, it only had the combined event. But the sport quickly grew. After a break for World War II, the 1948 Olympics introduced two new races: the downhill and the slalom.
A few years later, in 1952, the giant slalom was added. This new race was a mix between the speed of the downhill and the tight turns of the slalom. For a long time, the combined event wasn't a separate race. Instead, officials would use the skiers' times from the other three races to decide the winner.
In 1988, two big changes happened. The combined event came back as its own race, with one downhill run and two slalom runs. Also, a brand-new event called the super-G made its first appearance. The super-G is even faster than the giant slalom and is a huge test of a skier's courage and skill.
What are the Alpine Events?
Today, men and women compete in five different events, plus a mixed team event. Each one is a unique test of speed, skill, and control.
Downhill
This is the fastest event in Alpine skiing. Skiers race down a long, steep course with very few gates. They can reach speeds over 130 km/h (80 mph)! The goal is simple: get to the bottom with the fastest time.
Slalom
Slalom is all about technical skill. The course is much shorter than the downhill, but it has many gates (poles) that are close together. Skiers must make quick, tight turns to get through all the gates. Each skier does two runs, and their total time determines the winner.
Giant Slalom
The giant slalom is a mix of downhill and slalom. The course is longer and the gates are farther apart than in slalom. This means skiers can build up more speed while still needing to make precise turns. Like slalom, the winner is decided by the total time of two runs.
Super-G
Super-G stands for "super giant slalom." It combines the high speeds of downhill with the turning challenges of giant slalom. The course has fewer turns than a giant slalom, so skiers go incredibly fast. Unlike other events, skiers only get one chance to race down the course.
Alpine Combined
This event tests who is the best all-around skier. It includes one run of a speed event (either downhill or super-G) and one run of slalom. The skier with the fastest total time from both runs wins the gold medal.
Mixed Team Event
This exciting event was added in 2018. Teams of men and women from the same country race against each other in a slalom-style course. It's a fast-paced knockout competition that's fun to watch.
Olympic Host Cities
Alpine skiing has been held at famous mountain resorts all over the world. Here is a list of all the places that have hosted the Olympic events.
| Year | City | Nation | Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | Garmisch-Partenkirchen |  Germany |
2 |
| 1948 | St. Moritz |  Switzerland |
6 |
| 1952 | Oslo |  Norway |
6 |
| 1956 | Cortina d'Ampezzo |  Italy |
6 |
| 1960 | Squaw Valley |  United States |
6 |
| 1964 | Innsbruck |  Austria |
6 |
| 1968 | Grenoble |  France |
6 |
| 1972 | Sapporo |  Japan |
6 |
| 1976 | Innsbruck | Austria |
6 |
| 1980 | Lake Placid | United States |
6 |
| 1984 | Sarajevo |  Yugoslavia |
6 |
| 1988 | Calgary |  Canada |
10 |
| 1992 | Albertville | France |
10 |
| 1994 | Lillehammer | Norway |
10 |
| 1998 | Nagano | Japan |
10 |
| 2002 | Salt Lake City | United States |
10 |
| 2006 | Torino | Italy |
10 |
| 2010 | Vancouver | Canada |
10 |
| 2014 | Sochi |  Russia |
10 |
| 2018 | Pyeongchang |  South Korea |
11 |
| 2022 | Beijing |  China |
11 |
| 2026 | Cortina d'Ampezzo | Italy |
11 |
Medal Table
This table shows the countries that have won the most medals in Olympic Alpine skiing. Some countries, shown in italics, no longer compete under that name. This table is accurate after the 2022 Winter Olympics.
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austria (AUT) |
40 | 44 | 44 | 128 |
| 2 |  Switzerland (SUI) |
27 | 23 | 25 | 75 |
| 3 | United States (USA) |
17 | 21 | 10 | 48 |
| 4 | France (FRA) |
16 | 17 | 18 | 51 |
| 5 | Italy (ITA) |
14 | 11 | 11 | 36 |
| 6 |  Germany (GER) |
12 | 8 | 7 | 27 |
| 7 | Norway (NOR) |
11 | 14 | 15 | 40 |
| 8 |  Sweden (SWE) |
8 | 2 | 9 | 19 |
| 9 |  Croatia (CRO) |
4 | 6 | 0 | 10 |
| 10 | Canada (CAN) |
4 | 1 | 7 | 12 |
| 11 | West Germany (FRG) |
3 | 5 | 1 | 9 |
| 12 |  Slovenia (SLO) |
2 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| 13 |  Liechtenstein (LIE) |
2 | 2 | 6 | 10 |
| 14 |  United Team of Germany (EUA) |
2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 15 |  Czech Republic (CZE) |
1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
 Spain (ESP) |
1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| 17 |  Slovakia (SVK) |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Totals (17 entries) | 165 | 158 | 160 | 483 | |
Amazing Age Records
Skiers of all ages have made history at the Olympics. Here are some of the most impressive age-related records in Alpine skiing.
- Youngest Gold Medalist (Overall): Michela Figini of Switzerland was only 17 when she won the downhill in 1984.
- Youngest Medalist (Overall): Traudl Hecher of Austria was just 16 when she won a bronze medal in the downhill in 1960.
- Youngest Male Gold Medalist: Toni Sailer of Austria was 20 when he won three gold medals in 1956.
- Youngest Male Medalist: Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway was 19 when he won bronze in the slalom in 2014.
- Oldest Gold Medalist: Mario Matt of Austria was 34 when he won the slalom in 2014.
- Oldest Medalist: Bode Miller of the USA was 36 when he won a bronze medal in the super-G in 2014.
See also
In Spanish: Esquí alpino en los Juegos Olímpicos para niños
- Alpine skiing at the Winter Paralympics
- Alpine skiing at the Youth Olympic Games
- Alpine Skiing World Cup
- FIS Alpine World Ski Championships
- List of Olympic venues in alpine skiing
