Ross Milne facts for kids
| Alpine skier | |
| Disciplines | Downhill, Giant Slalom, Slalom |
|---|---|
| Club | Falls Creek |
| Born | 4 October 1944 Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 25 January 1964 (aged 19) Innsbruck, Austria |
| Olympics | |
| Teams | 1 – (1964) |
Leslie Ross Milne (born October 3, 1944 – died January 25, 1964) was a talented alpine ski racer from Australia. He was set to compete in the men's downhill event at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria.
Sadly, during a training run at Patscherkofel, Ross lost control. He hit a tree while going very fast and suffered a head injury, which led to his death. This was the second sad event at the 1964 Winter Games. Just three days before, a British luge racer named Kazimierz Kay-Skrzypecki also died from injuries during a training run.
Ross Milne's Skiing Background
Ross Milne learned to ski at the Falls Creek ski area. This area is located in the Australian Alps. He was a very skilled skier.
Before the 1964 Olympics, Ross had spent the winter of 1963 racing in Europe. This experience helped him prepare for international competitions.
Was Ross Milne Inexperienced?
After Ross's accident, some people wondered if young or inexperienced athletes were being sent to dangerous snow sports. However, those who knew Ross well disagreed.
Dr. Blaxland, who was part of the Australian team, said that Ross was 19 years old, not 17. He also stated that Ross was a very skilled skier. Ross had competed in Australian championships for at least four years. This showed he was an experienced athlete.
The team manager, John Wagner, explained what might have happened. He said that the downhill course was very crowded with many racers. Ross might have tried to slow down in a spot that wasn't ready for stopping. Wagner believed that better management of the course could have prevented the accident. He also thought that even top skiers might have had trouble in a similar situation.
Following Ross's death, and another serious injury to a skier from Liechtenstein, some small safety changes were made to the downhill course. These changes were put in place before the main race on January 30.
Ross Milne's Family and Legacy
Ross Milne was buried in his hometown of Myrtleford in Victoria. His family were farmers in that area.
Ross had a younger brother named Malcolm Milne (born in 1948). Malcolm also became a ski racer. He competed on the World Cup circuit. He also represented Australia in the 1968 and 1972 Winter Olympics.
Some people suggested that skiers from Australia and New Zealand should not compete in downhill races. This idea motivated Malcolm to prove them wrong. In December 1969, he made history. He became the first non-European skier to win a men's World Cup downhill race. This victory happened at Val-d'Isère, France. It was also the first time an alpine racer from the Southern Hemisphere stood on a World Cup podium.
