Josl Rieder facts for kids
Rieder lighting the Olympic cauldron in 1964
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Quick facts for kids Personal information |
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| Born | 3 December 1932 Lermoos, Austria |
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| Died | 15 June 2019 (aged 86) | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 162 cm | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 60 kg | ||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Alpine skiing | ||||||||||||||||
| Club | SC Lermoos | ||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Josef "Josl" Rieder (born December 3, 1932 – died June 15, 2019) was an amazing Austrian alpine skier. He was famous for his speed on the slopes. Josl Rieder also had the special honor of lighting the Olympic Flame at the 1964 Winter Olympics. He won several important medals during his career.
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Meet Josl Rieder: Austrian Skiing Star
Josl Rieder was born in a town called Lermoos in Austria. From a young age, he loved skiing. He grew up to become one of Austria's top alpine skiers. Alpine skiing involves racing down snow-covered mountains. Skiers try to be the fastest while navigating tricky courses.
Josl's Olympic Moments
Josl Rieder competed in the 1956 Winter Olympics held in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. Unfortunately, he faced some challenges there. He was disqualified in the downhill race. He also did not finish the slalom event.
However, Josl Rieder had a very memorable moment later on. In 1964, the Winter Olympics were held in Innsbruck, Austria. This was his home country! Josl was chosen for a huge honor. He got to light the Olympic Flame during the opening ceremony. This flame symbolizes peace and unity. It is a very special tradition at every Olympic Games.
World Championship Success
Josl Rieder showed his incredible talent at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1958. These championships took place in Bad Gastein. He won three medals at this big event.
Slalom Gold
Josl Rieder won a gold medal in the slalom event. Slalom is a technical race. Skiers go down a slope through many gates. These gates are placed very close together. Skiers must make quick, sharp turns. It takes a lot of skill and precision.
Giant Slalom and Combination Silvers
He also earned two silver medals. One was in the giant slalom. This race is similar to slalom. However, the gates are spaced further apart. This allows skiers to go much faster.
His other silver medal was in the combination event. The combination event tests a skier's all-around skills. It combines results from different types of races. Usually, it includes a downhill race and a slalom race. Josl's success in this event showed he was a versatile skier. He was good at both speed and technical skiing.
A Lasting Legacy
Josl Rieder passed away on June 15, 2019. He is remembered as a talented Austrian alpine skier. His gold and silver medals at the World Championships were big achievements. Lighting the Olympic flame was also a moment he, and Austria, would never forget. He inspired many young skiers in his home country.
