Renate Goetschl (AUT)

DOB:  08/16/1975  Hometown:  Obdach

Renate Goetschl is one of the best "big competition" racers on the women's circuit. Goetschl, 17, stunned the alpine world in March '93 by winning the slalom in Hajfell, Norway, one of the test events for the '94 Olympics. And she did it starting way back in the pack — start number 42. On top of that, it was her first World Cup appearance. One year later Goetschl proved she could race downhill, too, finishing second at St. Anton where she won the combined title. Goetschl consolidated her position as a top speed skier by winning a super G in '95, but it was two seasons later before she would reach higher summits.

Goetschl won the combined World Championship in '97 at Sestriere, making her the only Austrian to clinch a title in Italy. At the end of the season she surprised everybody again by taking the downhill World Cup title, defeating Warwara Zelenskaja (Russia), Heidi Zurbriggen (Switzerland) and Katja Seizinger (Germany) in a close race at the World Cup finals in Vail, CO. No Austrian had won that title since the great Annemarie Moser-Proell in '79.

However things didn't go as well in '98 at the Nagano Olympics. Goetschl was the fastest skier at the final intermediate time of the super G. But a small mistake just before the finish line cost her a place on the podium. Her problems continued when she skied out in the downhill.

Goetschl learned her lesson from those two disasters and was more focused and determined than ever during the '98-'99 season. At the Vail World Championships, she won the downhill gold medal and added two silver medals in super G and combined. And she dominated the downhill World Cup standings with four more victories. She also won a super G in January '99.

A very aggressive, yet consistent racer, Goetschl has the potential to win the Overall World Cup if she improves in the technical events. Renate graduated from the Schladming Ski School in '93. She lives on the family farm in the village of Obdach near Altenmark, where she likes to ride her motorbike in the summer.

— Patrick Lange, MountainZone.com World Cup Correspondent