Rudi Cranz

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameHeinz-Rudolf "Rudi"•Cranz
Used nameRudi•Cranz
Born2 September 1918 in Uccle, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale (BEL)
Died22 June 1941 in Różaniec, Podkarpackie (POL)
AffiliationsFreiburg
NOC Germany

Biography

Alpine skiers Rudi and Christl Cranz were siblings. Born in Brussels, their parents fled to Reutlingen during World War I. Rudi came sixth in the alpine combination at the 1936 Garmisch Partenkirchen Winter Olympics. He won four National titles (Alpine combination in 1937 and 1941, and slalom in 1939 and 1941). He twice participated in the World Championships; in 1937 when he finished fourth in the slalom and fifth in the combination, and 1939 when he finished fourth in both events.

Only a few months after his last German National in 1941 Rudi was killed-in-action during World War II at the beginning of the Russian campaign “Barbarossa” in Rosaniec, Poland. When Christl heard of her brother’s death she immediately retired from competitive skiing.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1936 Winter Olympics Alpine Skiing (Skiing) GER Rudi Cranz
Combined, Men (Olympic) 6

Olympic family relations

Special Notes