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Passing of ski legend Karl Molitor
Swiss Ski legend Karl Molitor (born 29th June 1920) passed away on 25th August 2014 at the age of 94 years.
Molitor is the most successful ski racer in the history of the classic Lauberhorn races in the Swiss alpine resort of Wengen, having won eleven races there in his career. In his first World Cup race in Wengen at the age of only 20, Molitor went into the history books as he took the downhill victory as the youngest participant, nine seconds ahead of runner-up Willi Walch (AUT). It was the most important victory of his life. Molitor soon became one of the best skiers of Switzerland and a rising star worldwide .
At the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in 1939 in Zakopane (POL), he claimed bronze in the downhill. He also obtained a silver medal in the Alpine combined event and a bronze medal in the downhill in the 1948 Winter Games in St. Moritz (SUI).
After his racing career, Molitor remained in close contact with the Lauberhorn races. He chaired the Wengen Ski Club and served as Race Director for the Organising Committee for 35 years, until 1992. In his business life, he went on to open a ski shop and manufacture ski boots in Wengen.
Molitor was a FIS official from 1950 -1976, serving in various functions such as downhill and slalom jury member and technical delegate at various FIS World Ski Championships and Olympic Winter Games. He also took part in several FIS Congresses from 1951 to 1971.
FIS would like to express its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Karl Molitor whose outstanding achievements and commitment to the sport will be forever remain etched in the history of the sport.
Source: the official FIS site
Molitor is the most successful ski racer in the history of the classic Lauberhorn races in the Swiss alpine resort of Wengen, having won eleven races there in his career. In his first World Cup race in Wengen at the age of only 20, Molitor went into the history books as he took the downhill victory as the youngest participant, nine seconds ahead of runner-up Willi Walch (AUT). It was the most important victory of his life. Molitor soon became one of the best skiers of Switzerland and a rising star worldwide .
At the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in 1939 in Zakopane (POL), he claimed bronze in the downhill. He also obtained a silver medal in the Alpine combined event and a bronze medal in the downhill in the 1948 Winter Games in St. Moritz (SUI).
After his racing career, Molitor remained in close contact with the Lauberhorn races. He chaired the Wengen Ski Club and served as Race Director for the Organising Committee for 35 years, until 1992. In his business life, he went on to open a ski shop and manufacture ski boots in Wengen.
Molitor was a FIS official from 1950 -1976, serving in various functions such as downhill and slalom jury member and technical delegate at various FIS World Ski Championships and Olympic Winter Games. He also took part in several FIS Congresses from 1951 to 1971.
FIS would like to express its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Karl Molitor whose outstanding achievements and commitment to the sport will be forever remain etched in the history of the sport.
Source: the official FIS site
