Paul Hildgartner (born 8 June 1952 in Chienes) is an Italian former luger who competed from the early 1970s to the late 1980s. Competing in five Winter Olympics, he earned two gold medals (Men's doubles: 1972, Men's singles: 1984) and one silver medal (Men's singles: 1980) for his efforts. Hildgartner was the flag bearer for Italy in the 1984 Winter Olympics and the 1988 Winter Olympics opening ceremonies.[1]
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's luge | ||
Representing  Italy
| ||
| Olympic Games | ||
 |
1972 Sapporo | Men's doubles |
|
1984 Sarajevo | Men's singles |
 |
1980 Lake Placid | Men's singles |
| World Championships | ||
|
1971 Olang | Men's doubles |
|
1978 Imst | Men's singles |
 |
1973 Oberhof | Men's doubles |
|
1979 Königssee | Men's singles |
|
1983 Lake Placid | Men's singles |
| European Championships | ||
|
1971 Imst | Men's doubles |
|
1974 Imst | Men's doubles |
|
1978 Hammarstrand | Men's singles |
|
1984 Olang | Men's singles |
|
1979 Oberhof | Men's singles |
|
1988 Königssee | Mixed team |
Biography
editHildgartner also won five medals at the FIL World Luge Championships with two golds (Men's singles: 1978, Men's doubles: 1971) and three bronzes (Men's singles: 1979, 1983; Men's doubles: 1973). Additionally, he won six medals at the FIL European Luge Championships with four golds (Men's singles: 1978, 1984; Men's doubles: 1971, 1974), one silver (Men's singles: 1979), and one bronze (Mixed team: 1988). He also won the Luge World Cup overall title in men's singles in 1978-9, 1980-81 (tied with fellow Italian Ernst Haspinger), and 1982-3.[2]
Hildgartner is the only person as of 2018[update] to win a gold medal in men's singles luge and doubles luge at the Winter Olympics, FIL World Luge Championships, and FIL European Luge Championships. He was among the first inductees into the International Luge Federation (FIL) Hall of Fame in 2004, along with Klaus Bonsack and Margit Schumann.
Following the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, the 17th turn at Cesana Pariol where the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton events took place was renamed in his honour.
References
edit- ^ "Flagbearers for Italy". www.olympedia.org. OlyMADMen. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ^ "List of European luge champions". Eiskanal (in German). Archived from the original on 2008-03-25. Retrieved 2015-02-08.
- 1988 luge men's singles results
- FIL-Luge.org January 7, 2004 Hall of Fame induction.
- Fuzilogik Sports - Winter Olympic results - Men's luge at the Wayback Machine (archived 2010-02-21)
- Great Olympians
- Hickoksports.com results on Olympic champions in luge and skeleton. at the Wayback Machine (archived 2007-06-30)
- Hickok sports information on World champions in luge and skeleton. at archive.today (archived 2012-12-04)
- List of men's singles luge World Cup champions since 1978. at the Wayback Machine (archived 2008-02-06)
External links
edit- Paul Hildgartner at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
- Paul Hildgartner at Olympedia
- Paul Hildgartner at the Italian National Olympic Committee (in Italian)
