Georg Thoma facts for kids
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Thoma at the 1966 World Championships
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 20 August 1937 (age 87) Hinterzarten, Germany |
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| Height | 167 cm | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 68 kg | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Nordic combined | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | SC Hinterzarten | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Georg Thoma (born August 20, 1937) is a famous German athlete. He used to compete in a winter sport called Nordic combined. This sport mixes two exciting parts: ski jumping and cross-country skiing. Georg Thoma made history by winning a gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics. He was the first athlete from outside Scandinavia to win in Nordic combined! Because of his amazing win, people in Germany voted him the German Sportsman of the Year.
Contents
A Champion Skier
Georg Thoma was a very talented skier. He was especially good at the jumping part of Nordic combined. His skills helped him win many important competitions.
Olympic Success
- 1960 Winter Olympics: Georg Thoma won a gold medal in Nordic combined. This was a huge achievement! He showed the world that athletes from Germany could be champions in this sport.
- 1964 Winter Olympics: He continued his success by winning a bronze medal. At the opening ceremony, he had the special honor of carrying the Olympic flag for Germany.
World Champion
In 1966, Georg Thoma became a world champion. He won the individual title at the World Championships held in Oslo. This proved he was one of the best Nordic combined skiers in the world.
Other Wins
Georg Thoma was also a three-time German champion in ski jumping. He won these titles in 1960, 1961, and 1963. He also won the Nordic combined event at the famous Holmenkollen ski festival four times in a row, from 1963 to 1966.
Holmenkollen Medal
For all his great achievements in Nordic combined, Georg Thoma received the Holmenkollen medal in 1964. This is a very special award given to top skiers. He shared this honor with three other amazing athletes: Veikko Kankkonen, Eero Mäntyranta, and Halvor Næs.
Life After Sports
After he stopped competing, Georg Thoma found new ways to use his talents.
New Careers
He first worked as a postman in his hometown. Later, he became a television commentator. This meant he would talk about ski events on TV, sharing his knowledge with viewers. He was also one of the first German winter athletes to earn money from sponsorships. This means companies paid him to promote their products.
Family Connection
Georg Thoma also has a family connection to the sport. He is the uncle of another famous ski jumper, Dieter Thoma.
