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Markus Wasmeier
Markus Wasmeier
Markus Wasmeier
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Markus Wasmeier (German pronunciation: [ˈmaʁ.kʊs ˈvaːsˌmaɪ̯ɐ] ⓘ; born 9 September 1963) is a German former World Cup alpine skier. He was World champion and two times Olympic champion.[1]

Key Information

Career

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At the 1985 World Championships at Bormio, Italy, he won the giant slalom at age 21, before recording a World Cup victory.

Born in Schliersee, Bavaria, West Germany, Wasmeier's first World Cup Race was on 5 February 1983, when he finished 49th in the downhill Race at St. Anton am Arlberg. He gained his first World Cup points in January 1984 by capturing 10th place in the Alpine Combined at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and that December, he achieved his first podium in (Giant slalom at Sestiere, Italy). In a downhill race in February 1987 at Furano, Japan, he broke two vertebrae and missed the rest of the season.

Wasmeier won a total of nine World Cup races, starting with two victories on 9 February 1986, in the Combined and Super-G events at Morzine, France.

The surprising result of double Olympic gold for Wasmeier at age thirty gained him the title of 1994 "Sportsman of the Year" in Germany,

World Cup results

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Season standings

[edit]
Season Age Overall Slalom Giant
Slalom		 Super G Downhill Combined
1984 20 61 — 27 not
awarded 		— 31
1985 21 10 — 9 19 5
1986 22 3 41 8 1 14 2
1987 23 3 44 6 3 14 —
1988 24 6 — 15 2 14 4
1989 25 5 — 21 6 9 2
1990 26 20 — 29 9 17 3
1991 27 40 — — 6 — 11
1992 28 7 — 23 9 6 3
1993 29 14 44 35 13 17 13
1994 30 25 — 17 10 38 15

Season titles

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Season Discipline
1986 Super-G

Individual races

[edit]

9 wins (2 DH, 6 SG, 1 K)

Season Date Location Discipline
1986 9 February 1986 Morzine, France Combined
Super-G
16 March 1986 Whistler, Canada Super G
1987 6 December 1986 Val-d'Isère, France Super-G
11 January 1987 Garmisch, West Germany Super G
17 January 1987 Wengen, Switzerland Downhill
1988 10 January 1988 Val-d'Isère, France Super G
1991 17 March 1991 Lake Louise, Canada Super G
1992 11 January 1992 Garmisch, Germany Downhill

World championship results

[edit]
  Year    Age   Slalom   Giant 
 Slalom 		 Super-G Downhill Combined
1985 21 — 1 not run 20 7
1987 23 — 13 3 9 5
1989 25 — 13 5 29 5
1991 27 — — 13 24 DNF
1993 29 — 9 canceled 35 14

Olympic results

[edit]
  Year    Age   Slalom   Giant 
 Slalom 		 Super-G Downhill Combined
1988 24 — 19 DNF 6 7
1992 28 — DNF1 9 4 5
1994 30 — 1 1 36 DNS SL1

After racing

[edit]

After retiring from competitive skiing, Wasmeier founded the farm and winter sport museum Bauernhof- und Wintersportmuseum Schliersee on 1 May 2007, and he has remained its curator and patron ever since. The museum provides insight into traditional Bavarian peasant life and aims to preserve old traditions by communicating them to coming generations.[2]

In 2009, Wasmeier shared his passion for building restoration and preserving tradition with an international group of young people through his involvement with the D&F Academy (now The DO School). Wasmeier worked with an international group of young people to restore a 17th-century farmhouse in the German Alps utilizing original materials, traditional tools, wood-crafting and handicraft techniques.[3] He remains involved with the DO School as an advisor and supporter.[4]

From 1993 to 1994, he was a commentator for the German Television Broadcaster ARD until 2007 and from 2008 until 2014. He is a consultant in the German Skiing Federation since 2000. Married since 1991, his wife Brigitte is a South Tyrolian.

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Markus Wasmeier

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from Grokipedia
Markus Wasmeier is a German former World Cup alpine skier known for winning two gold medals at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics in the giant slalom and Super-G events. Born 9 September 1963 in Schliersee, West Germany, Wasmeier competed internationally for Germany, making his World Cup debut in 1983 and achieving early recognition with a gold medal in the downhill at the 1985 World Championships. His career peaked in 1994 when he triumphed in both the Super-G and giant slalom at the Olympics, securing his place as one of Germany's most celebrated alpine skiers. Wasmeier retired after the 1994–95 season and maintains a connection to the sport through his personal website and activities in his home region of Bavaria, including operating a farm and winter sports museum in Schliersee.

Early Life

Birth and Family Background

Markus Wasmeier was born on September 9, 1963, in Schliersee, Bavaria, Germany. He grew up in the Schliersee area of Upper Bavaria, remaining deeply rooted in his homeland there. He is the son of a restorer and was raised as an only child. As a child, Wasmeier learned from his father how to dismantle and rebuild old houses, reflecting the family's connection to restoration work. He has described himself as a very sensitive only child during his early years.

Introduction to Skiing

Markus Wasmeier was introduced to alpine skiing at the age of two when he received his first skis in his hometown of Schliersee, Bavaria. Growing up in this mountainous region naturally fostered his early engagement with the sport, supported by his parents' emphasis on a love for sports. He became affiliated with the Ski-Club Schliersee (SC Schliersee), the local ski club in his hometown, where he pursued initial training and competitive involvement. As a youth racer, Wasmeier demonstrated early promise by winning the German School Championships (Deutsche Schülermeisterschaft) at the age of twelve, an achievement that secured his entry into the C-Nationalmannschaft of the German Ski Association (DSV) for his age group. These junior successes established his foundation in competitive alpine skiing before advancing to higher levels.

Skiing Career

Early Competitive Years

Markus Wasmeier made his debut in the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in 1983, marking his entry into senior international competition. He specialized particularly in the technical disciplines of giant slalom and Super-G early in his career, while also competing in downhill events. His initial years on the World Cup circuit involved gaining experience and steadily improving his results in the technical events. In 1986, Wasmeier achieved his first World Cup victory in a Super-G race at Morzine, France, establishing an early highlight in his competitive progression. This success underscored his growing prowess in Super-G and giant slalom, disciplines where he would continue to excel.

World Cup Breakthrough and Victories

Markus Wasmeier achieved his breakthrough on the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup circuit during the 1985–86 season, when he secured his first victories and established himself as a top contender in the technical and speed events. On 9 February 1986, he claimed two wins at Morzine, France, taking the Super-G and Combined races, marking the start of his most successful period. That same season, he won the Super-G discipline title. Wasmeier's success continued strongly in subsequent seasons, as he finished third in the overall World Cup standings in both 1986 and 1987. Across his career, he accumulated nine World Cup victories, with six in Super-G, two in downhill, and one in combined. These wins were complemented by 22 additional podium finishes, bringing his total World Cup podiums to 31. His victories spanned from 1986 to his final win on 19 March 1994. Key examples of his prowess outside major championships include a Super-G victory in 1988, which marked his seventh World Cup win overall and his fifth in the discipline at that point. Wasmeier's consistent performance in Super-G and giant slalom during this era solidified his reputation as one of the leading alpine skiers of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

World Championships Participation

Markus Wasmeier competed in the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships on multiple occasions, with his strongest showings in the giant slalom discipline. He earned his first major international title at the 1985 championships in Bormio, Italy, where he won the gold medal in the giant slalom. This victory saw him finish ahead of Pirmin Zurbriggen of Switzerland and Marc Girardelli of Luxembourg. He followed with a bronze medal in the Super-G at the 1987 championships in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Wasmeier also participated in the 1989 championships in Vail, Colorado, finishing sixth in the super G with a time of 1:39.56, 0.75 seconds behind the leader. His final World Championships appearance came in 1993 at Morioka Shizukuishi, Japan, where he placed ninth in the giant slalom and thirty-fifth in the downhill. These results reflected his continued competitiveness in technical events amid a career that also featured strong World Cup form leading into major championships.

1994 Lillehammer Olympics

Markus Wasmeier achieved the pinnacle of his alpine skiing career at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, where he won gold medals in both the super-G and giant slalom events at the age of 30. The men's super-G took place on 17 February 1994. Wasmeier completed the course in a time of 1:32.53 to claim the gold medal. He finished just 0.08 seconds ahead of silver medalist Tommy Moe of the United States (1:32.61) and 0.40 seconds ahead of bronze medalist Kjetil André Aamodt of Norway (1:32.93). Wasmeier followed this success in the men's giant slalom on 23 February 1994, winning gold with a combined two-run time of 2:52.46. He edged out Urs Kaelin of Switzerland by a mere 0.02 seconds (2:52.48) for silver and Christian Mayer of Austria by 0.12 seconds (2:52.58) for bronze in one of the closest giant slalom finishes in Olympic history. These two victories marked Wasmeier's only Olympic gold medals and highlighted his ability to peak at the major event.

Retirement from Competition

Markus Wasmeier retired from competitive alpine skiing in 1995, at the end of the 1994–95 World Cup season. The 1994 Lillehammer Olympics, where he won two gold medals, marked the peak of his career.

Post-Retirement Career

Television Commentary and Sports Media

Markus Wasmeier began working as a ski expert and commentator for the German public broadcaster ARD in the winter season of 1993/94. He provided analysis during live coverage of alpine skiing events, including World Cup races, FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, and Olympic Games, offering insights on tactics, course conditions, and race dynamics. Wasmeier pioneered the use of hand-held camera runs, skiing down courses before events to demonstrate challenging sections, speeds up to 140 km/h, and jumps up to 60 meters, providing viewers with an immersive perspective. This approach became a distinctive feature of ARD's winter sports broadcasts. He contributed to ARD's alpine skiing coverage for nearly 20 years, ending his regular role in 2014.

Acting Roles and On-Screen Appearances

Markus Wasmeier has made occasional on-screen appearances in German television, primarily connected to his skiing fame and appearing as himself. He is credited in White Magic (1994), Ski Into the Sun (2005), and an episode of Forsthaus Falkenau (2004). These appearances are limited and leverage his status as a retired Olympic champion rather than indicating a sustained acting career.

Other Professional Activities

After his retirement from competitive skiing, Markus Wasmeier founded the Markus Wasmeier Freilichtmuseum (Open-Air Museum) in Schliersee, which opened in May 2007. The museum recreates an authentic old Bavarian village, featuring reconstructed historic farms and buildings to preserve and showcase traditional rural life, craftsmanship, and cultural heritage of the Bavarian Oberland. Wasmeier serves as the initiator, patron, and active operator of the privately run museum, which is supported by the registered association Markus Wasmeier Bauernhof- und Wintersportmuseum Schliersee e.V. The site includes daily demonstrations by traditional craftsmen, family-oriented activities, themed events, and on-site facilities such as the Wirtshaus "Zum Wofen" restaurant serving homemade Bavarian specialties and a museum brewery producing its own Museumsbier. The museum also incorporates elements of winter sports history, aligning with Wasmeier's skiing background, and functions as a living cultural center aimed at passing on old traditions to future generations. Through this endeavor, Wasmeier has established a significant post-competitive legacy focused on heritage preservation and regional tourism in Schliersee.

Personal Life

Family and Private Life

Markus Wasmeier has been married to Brigitte Wasmeier, known as Gitti and originally from South Tyrol, since 1991. They met in 1989 at a celebrity trotting race in Munich-Daglfing, where Gitti was working at the time. The couple has three sons: Markus, Lukas, and Kilian. The family resides in Schliersee, Wasmeier's hometown in Upper Bavaria. Together they operate a Freilichtmuseum (open-air museum) there, which they describe as their home and life's work. In 2012, Brigitte Wasmeier was diagnosed with gynecological cancer, a life-threatening illness during which she prepared to say goodbye to her children. With her husband's support, including advocating for an alternative treatment approach when she felt unable to endure further chemotherapy, she recovered and regained her strength. The couple has publicly shared that the experience deepened their bond and made their family life more conscious and grateful.

Residence and Interests

Markus Wasmeier resides in Schliersee, Upper Bavaria, his birthplace and lifelong home where he remains deeply rooted. He values the privilege of living in a scenic region where many others visit only for vacations, appreciating the local natural beauty and tranquility. His personal interests center on outdoor activities, including frequent cycling—at least four times per week—using mountain bike, road bike, or e-bike, as well as long-distance swimming in water above approximately 18 °C. He enjoys uphill walking, avoids steep descents due to artificial hips, and continues recreational skiing at a moderate pace. Wasmeier holds a particular passion for winter and snow, relishing the silence, cold, unique atmosphere, and even the scent of snow since childhood.

References

  1. https://www.olympics.com/en/athletes/markus-wasmeier
  2. https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/98834
  3. https://www.wasmeier.de/
  4. https://www.wasmeier.de/dasdorf/markus-wasmeier-2/
  5. https://www.br.de/presse/inhalt/pressemitteilungen/bayerischer-rundfunk-60-geburtstag-markus-wasmeier-100.html
  6. https://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/sport/az-live-markus-wasmeier-die-meisten-autogramme-hat-damals-mein-vater-geschrieben-id69366481.html
  7. https://corporate.dw.com/de/2011-interview-mit-markus-wasmeier/a-37035815
  8. https://hdbg.eu/zeitzeugen/detail/ski-alpin/markus-wasmeier/1274
  9. https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/athlete-biography.html?sectorcode=al&competitorid=65314&type=result
  10. https://www.olympedia.org/affiliations/3221
  11. https://ski-db.com/db/stats/wc_m_winners.php
  12. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-01-11-sp-23394-story.html
  13. https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/results.html?sectorcode=AL&raceid=9224
  14. https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/results.html?sectorcode=AL&raceid=9544
  15. https://www.olympics.com/en/olympic-games/lillehammer-1994/results/alpine-skiing/super-g-men
  16. https://www.olympics.com/en/olympic-games/lillehammer-1994/results/alpine-skiing/giant-slalom-men
  17. https://www.olympedia.org/editions/45/sports/ALP
  18. https://kress.de/news/detail/beitrag/127866-arbeite-an-neuem-fernsehformat-wasmeier-hoert-als-ard-wintersport-experte-auf.html
  19. https://www.newsroom.de/news/aktuelle-meldungen/leute-6/ski-olympiasieger-wasmeier-hoert-als-tv-experte-der-ard-auf-819985/
  20. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0913610/
  21. https://www.schliersee.de/en/so/kultur-lebensart/museen/
  22. https://museen-in-bayern.de/en/museums/museum-details/markus-wasmeier-freilichtmuseum-schliersee
  23. https://flyctory.com/2021/03/01/markus-wasmeier-open-air-museum/
  24. https://www.news.de/sport/855683913/markus-wasmeier-privat-nach-aktiver-karriere-frau-gitti-wasi-heute-mit-ehefrau-brigitte-familie-kinder-lukas-kilian/1/
  25. https://www.bunte.de/stars/star-life/schicksalsgeschichten-der-stars/markus-wasmeier-frau-gitti-mein-mann-hat-mir-das-leben-gerettet.html
  26. https://www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de/promis/ehefrau-von-markus-wasmeier-krebs-erkrankung-art-417880
  27. https://www.muenchensued.de/mediathek/markus-wasmeier-im-interview/
  28. https://www.sueddeutsche.de/bayern/markus-wasmeier-mein-schliersee-leben-wo-andere-urlaub-machen-1.1037752
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