Annemarie Moser-Pröll

Eleven consecutive downhill race victories remain the standard for female alpine skiers, a record set by Annemarie Moser-Pröll between the 1972 and 1974 seasons. Born in 1953 in Kleinarl, Austria, she emerged as the most successful female competitor of the 1970s, claiming six overall World Cup titles and securing a definitive place in winter sports history.

Dominance in the World Cup

Moser-Pröll dominated the alpine skiing circuit during the 1970s, achieving 62 individual World Cup victories. Her collection includes 36 downhill wins, 16 in giant slalom, seven in combined, and three in slalom. Between 1971 and 1975, she achieved five consecutive overall World Cup titles, eventually securing a sixth title in 1979. Her career winning percentage of 35.4 percent stands as the second-highest for female skiers.

THE FREE TEST

How high is yours?

Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.

Take the IQ test →

Olympic Progression

The path to Olympic gold involved significant challenges. At the 1972 Sapporo Games, she finished second in both the downhill and giant slalom behind Marie-Theres Nadig. Following a break from professional competition to care for her father, who was ill with lung cancer, she returned to the sport after his death in June 1976. She concluded her competitive career at the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics by winning the gold medal in the downhill, again ahead of Nadig.

Transition to Gastronomy

After retiring from skiing in 1980, Moser-Pröll transitioned into the hospitality industry in Kleinarl. She opened the Weltcup-Café Annemarie, where she displayed her collection of trophies and cups earned throughout her career. Following the death of her husband, Herbert Moser, whom she married in 1974, she closed the business in 2008 and sold the property, which continues to operate as the Café-Restaurant Olympia.