Franz Kneissl

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameFranz Josef•Kneissl
Used nameFranz•Kneissl
Born29 July 1921 in Kufstein, Tirol (AUT)
Died24 May 1994 in Kufstein, Tirol (AUT)
Affiliations?, Kufstein (AUT)
NOC Austria

Biography

Austrian Franz Kneissl was the son of an avid skier who invented the the Franz Kneissl ski brand. After World War II, Franz junior became a director of the family company and built it up again after it was destroyed during the war years. He was himself wounded three times fighting on the Eastern Front and was finally interned in a French prisoner of war camp until 1946. In 1952, Kneissl participated in the Oslo Winter Olympics as a bobsledder in the four-men bob, but they retired after the third run.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1952 Winter Olympics Bobsleigh (Bobsleigh) AUT Franz Kneissl
Four, Men (Olympic) Austria 2 AC

Errata

Date of birth previously given as 3 August 1921, but baptismal records confirm 29 July to be correct.