Heinrich Messner

Heinrich "Heini" Messner (1 September 1939 – 19 October 2023) was an Austrian alpine skier. He competed at the 1964, 1968, and 1972 Olympics and won two bronze medals: in the giant slalom in 1968 and in the downhill in 1972.

Biography

On 5 January 1967, Messner won the first race ever held in the World Cup - a slalom. He had 15 more World Cup podium finishes later in his career. In the 1970s, he pioneered the use of short skis in the technical races. Messner retired after the 1972 season and for two years trained the Austrian women’s team. He then moved to Steinach am Brenner where he ran a ski school, a boarding house, and a ski rental service.

National titles

Messner won five national championships at individual senior level.

Austria Alpine Ski Championships Downhill: 1961 Giant slalom: 1967 Slalom: 1964, 1965, 1967