Olympic journey through time – today: February 12th

February 12th was particularly fruitful for South Tyrol's Winter Games in the past: two gold medals and one silver medal were hung around the necks of three outstanding South Tyrolean sporting greats on that day.

Paul Hildgartner crowns his career Luger Paul Hildgartner from Kiens won Olympic gold for the second time in Sarajevo on February 12, 1984 - 12 years after his first victory.

As a 19-year-old he won the doubles in Sapporo with Walter Plaikner in 1972, and in 1984 he won the singles in what was then Yugoslavia and had his former doubles partner Walter Plaikner as his coach. Four years earlier he had also won single-seater Olympic silver in Lake Placid.

In 1984, Hildgartner relegated the two Soviet Russians Sergei Danilin and Valeri Dudin to the honorary ranks.

There is this English-language video and interview of Hildgartner's 1984 Olympic victory.

Zöggeler’s “home win” in Turin Armin Zöggeler, South Tyrol's most successful luger of all time, won his second Olympic gold in a row and the Olympic medal for the fourth time 12 years ago, on February 12, 2006, in Turin. This success was followed by two more Olympic bronze medals, making Zöggeler the record holder who was able to win precious metal at six consecutive Winter Games.

In Turin 2006, Zöggeler put the Russian Albert Demtschenko and the Latvian Martins Rubenis in their place. The latter won Latvia's first-ever Olympic medal.

On YouTube you can find this video of Zöggeler's 2nd Olympic victory with the passionate commentary by the Bolzano RAI journalist Stefano Bizzotto.

“Isi” 3rd Olympic medal The Val Gardena ski speed specialist Isolde Kostner won Olympic silver on February 12, 2002 in Salt Lake City behind the Frenchwoman Carole Montillet and in front of the Austrian Renate Götschl.

Eight years earlier, “Isi” Kostner had won two bronze medals in Lillehammer in 1994 as an 18-year-old, in the downhill and the super-G.

In 2002 in Salt Lake City, Isolde Kostner was also Italy's flag bearer at the opening ceremony before winning her medal. This honor was also given to Armin Zöggeler (2014) and Paul Hildgartner (twice in 1984 and 1988).

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

Olympic journey through time – today: February 12th

Day after day, “SportNews” looks back at South Tyrolean Olympic highlights that happened on that particular day at some point in the past. This time it's February 12th.

Suggestions

Comments (0)