Phil Mahre facts for kids
| Alpine skier | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
.jpg) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disciplines | Downhill, giant slalom, slalom, combined | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | White Pass | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | May 10, 1957 Yakima, Washington, U.S. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Cup debut | December 5, 1975 (age 18) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retired | March 1984 (age 26) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | mahretrainingcenter.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Olympics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Teams | 3 – (1976, 1980, 1984) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Medals | 2 (1 gold) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Championships | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Teams | 4 – (1976–82) includes two Olympics |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Medals | 2 (1 gold) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Cup | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seasons | 9 – (1976–84) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 27 – (7 GS, 9 SL, 11 K) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Podiums | 69 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overall titles | 3 – (1981, 1982, 1983) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discipline titles | 7 – (2 GS, 1 SL, 4 K) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Medal record
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Phillip Ferdinand Mahre (born May 10, 1957) is a famous former American alpine ski racer. He competed in the World Cup from 1976 to 1984. Phil Mahre was one of the best skiers in the world, winning the overall World Cup title three years in a row (1981, 1982, and 1983). He also won an Olympic gold medal in 1984. Phil is known for his friendly rivalry with his twin brother, Steve Mahre, who was also a top skier.
Contents
Early Life and Skiing Beginnings
Phil Mahre was born in Yakima, Washington, on May 10, 1957. He has a fraternal twin brother named Steve, who is just four minutes younger. Phil was one of nine children in his family.
Their family grew up at a ski area. In 1964, their father, Dave "Spike" Mahre, became the manager of the White Pass Ski Area. This ski area is about 50 miles west of Yakima. The family moved into a home right near the ski lifts, which meant the Mahre kids could ski all the time!
By the time Phil and Steve were 12, they were already showing amazing talent in skiing. Ski companies even started sending them free skis. The next year, a company called Rossignol wanted to sign them to a long-term contract, but their dad said no. Later, they used skis made by an American company called K2 throughout their careers. The Mahre twins worked closely with K2 to help design special race skis that were perfect for them.
Phil Mahre went to Naches High School. Besides skiing, he also played football as a blocking back and linebacker for his school team.
Joining the U.S. Ski Team
Phil Mahre joined the U.S. Ski Team in early 1973 when he was just 15 years old. After the 1975 season, he was chosen for the "A" team, which is the top level. He made his first World Cup appearance in December 1975 in France.
Just two months later, at age 18, he competed in the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. He finished fifth in the giant slalom event. In March 1976, he earned his first World Cup podium finish, coming in second in a giant slalom race in Copper Mountain, Colorado. He ended the 1976 World Cup season in 14th place overall.
The next season, Phil won his first World Cup race. It was a giant slalom in France in December 1976. He then won a slalom race in March 1977 in Sun Valley, beating his main rival, the legendary Swedish skier Ingemar Stenmark. His twin brother Steve came in third in that race. Phil finished ninth in the overall standings for 1977.
In 1978, Phil placed second in the overall World Cup standings. He finished third in 1979, even though he broke his lower left leg in March of that year.
At the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, Phil won a silver medal in the slalom event, finishing behind Stenmark. He also won a combined title. The combined event was not an Olympic medal event in 1980, but it counted as an official World Championship title. He finished third in the overall World Cup standings for 1980 and won the first of his four combined discipline titles.
Winning the World Cup Overall Title
Phil Mahre's career reached its peak over the next three seasons. He became the best alpine ski racer in the world.
Three-Time World Cup Champion
In 1981, Phil Mahre won his first World Cup overall title. He just barely beat Ingemar Stenmark, who had won three titles before. Phil won because he was very strong in the downhill and combined events, which Stenmark was not as good at.
In 1982, Mahre had an incredible season. He won the titles in giant slalom, slalom, and combined races, as well as the overall title. He had eight wins and finished on the podium 20 times. His total points were much higher than Stenmark's.
In 1983, Mahre again beat Stenmark by a large amount to win his third straight overall title. He also won his second straight giant slalom title.
Olympic Gold in 1984
At the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Phil Mahre won another medal in the slalom. This time, he won the gold medal! His brother Steve won the silver medal, making it a fantastic 1-2 finish for the Mahre twins.
Steve had been leading after the first run of the race. Phil then skied a great second run to take the lead. Steve was the last to ski, and he just needed a solid run to win the gold. However, he made a few mistakes, which dropped him into second place. This meant Phil became the Olympic champion!
During the race, Phil didn't know that his wife, Holly, had given birth to their second child, a son, in Arizona an hour before the race started. He only found out during a TV interview after he won!
The Mahre brothers won two of the five alpine skiing medals for the U.S. team at those Olympics. Other American skiers from the Northwest also won gold, like Bill Johnson in downhill and Debbie Armstrong in women's giant slalom. Christin Cooper won silver in the women's giant slalom.
The Mahre twins raced a limited World Cup schedule in 1984 and then retired from the sport in early March, at age 26. Phil ended his career with 27 World Cup race victories. At that time, only Ingemar Stenmark had more wins among men's racers.
Life After Skiing
After retiring from competitive skiing, Phil and Steve Mahre wrote a book in 1985 called No Hill Too Fast. The book tells the story of their childhood and their careers in the World Cup. It also includes tips on "How to Ski the Mahre Way."
In the same year, the twins started the Mahre Training Center in Keystone, Colorado. They still run it today in Deer Valley, Utah, helping other skiers improve their skills.
In 1988, Phil Mahre joined the World Pro Ski Tour and won the slalom title in 1989. Both he and Steve raced on this tour.
The twins also became interested in auto racing. They attended a special driving school in 1988 and later competed in the Grand American Road Racing Association series.
On February 9, 2010, Phil Mahre had the honor of carrying the 2010 Vancouver Olympic torch across the border from the U.S. into Canada.
Brief Comeback Attempt
In 2006, at the age of 49, Phil Mahre decided to try and qualify for the U.S. National Championships again. He almost made it in 2008, but his 2008–09 season was cut short because of a knee injury.
During his World Cup career, Phil Mahre used K2 skis. For his comeback attempt, he tried using Volant and then Head skis.
Phil Mahre's Achievements
Phil Mahre had a very successful career in alpine skiing.
World Cup Success
- Overall World Cup Titles: 3 (1981, 1982, 1983)
- Discipline Titles: 7 (2 Giant Slalom, 1 Slalom, 4 Combined)
- World Cup Race Wins: 27 total (7 Giant Slalom, 9 Slalom, 11 Combined)
- World Cup Podiums: 69 times he finished in the top three.
Olympic and World Championship Medals
- 1984 Sarajevo Olympics: Gold in Slalom
- 1980 Lake Placid Olympics: Silver in Slalom
- 1980 Lake Placid World Championships: Gold in Combined (this was part of the 1980 Olympics)
Images for kids
-
Phil Mahre in 1979.
See also
In Spanish: Phil Mahre para niños
- World Fit
- List of Olympic medalist families
