Hanni Wenzel

Hanni Wenzel

Hannelore (Hanni) Wenzel (born in Straubing, West Germany on December 14, 1956) is a former champion alpine ski racer from Liechtenstein. She won the country's first Olympic medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria.

Born in West Germany, Hanni moved to Liechtenstein at an early age. After she and her younger brother Andreas began to get successful in skiing - Hanni won the gold medal in slalom at the 1974 World Championships - the family was granted Liechtenstein citizenship. In 1976, she won the country's first Olympic medal by taking a bronze in the giant slalom at Innsbruck.

After winning the 1978 World Cup overall title, Wenzel's best year came in 1980. At the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, she won gold medals in the slalom and giant slalom, and just missed out on a sweep by taking the silver in the downhill. She also won the combined event in Lake Placid, although it had World Championship status, not Olympic status. At the same Olympics, her brother also won a silver medal, placing Liechtenstein high in the medal ranking of the games. In addition to her Olympic success, she won nine World Cup races in 1980 and captured the overall, giant slalom, and combined season titles. Her brother Andreas won the overall men's title.

Hanni Wenzel retired following the 1984 season with two Olympic titles, four World titles, two overall World Cups, three discipline World Cups plus three combined titles, and 33 World Cup victories. (Through 1980, the Olympics were also the World Championships.)