Austrian · Kitzbühel, Austria · Born 17 November 1935Austrian alpine ski racer who became the first person to win all three alpine skiing events at a single Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956.
Born in the renowned skiing town of Kitzbühel, Austria on November 17, 1935, Anton "Toni" Sailer grew up surrounded by alpine skiing culture. His hometown's legendary Hahnenkamm downhill course provided the perfect training ground for the future Olympic champion. Sailer's natural talent emerged early, and he quickly progressed through Austria's competitive skiing ranks during the early 1950s. The 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo marked Sailer's breakthrough on the international stage. At just 20 years old, he achieved an unprecedented feat by winning gold medals in all three alpine skiing disciplines then contested: downhill, slalom, and giant slalom. His victories were not merely wins but dominant performances, with his downhill victory margin of 3.5 seconds representing one of the largest in Olympic alpine skiing history. This triple gold medal achievement had never been accomplished before and remains one of skiing's most remarkable Olympic performances. Sailer's success extended beyond the Olympics to World Championship competition, where he captured titles across all three alpine disciplines. His technical prowess combined with exceptional speed made him virtually unbeatable during his peak years in the mid-1950s. The margins of his victories often left competitors far behind, establishing new standards for alpine skiing excellence. Following his retirement from competitive skiing, Sailer transitioned into Austrian entertainment, becoming a popular actor and singer in German-language cinema and music. His post-skiing career helped maintain his public profile and cemented his status as a cultural icon in Austria. Sailer remained Kitzbühel's most celebrated native son until his death in 2009. His Olympic triumph established the foundation for Austria's subsequent alpine skiing dominance, inspiring generations of Austrian skiers including Franz Klammer, Hermann Maier, and Marcel Hirscher. Sailer's legacy endures as the architect of Austrian alpine skiing supremacy and one of the sport's greatest Olympic champions.
First athlete to win all three alpine skiing gold medals at single Olympics (1956)
How They Played
Aggressive, dynamic skiing style with exceptional technical precision across all alpine disciplines
Lasting Impact
Revolutionized alpine skiing technique and remains one of Austria's greatest winter sports legends
Career Honours
- Olympic Gold 3x (1956: downhill, slalom, giant slalom)
- World Champion 3x
- Olympic Triple Gold Medalist (1956)
- World Championship Gold Medalist
- Hahnenkamm Downhill Winner
Austrian Athletes