Achim Walcher

Austrian cross-country skier Achim Walcher participated in the 1998 Nagano and the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. In 1998 he had lesser results with an 11th place in the pursuit as his best. In 2002, he was retrospectively disqualified for blood doping and banned for two years. Several blood bags had been found in the Austrian team’s house, prompting targeted testing of the athletes.

After his active career Walcher turned to coaching and was responsible for the skiing academy in Schladming. He married teammate Maria Theurl. Their daughter Witta-Luisa also became a cross-country skier, and their son Paul became a Nordic combined exponent.