Pirmin Zurbriggen

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full namePirmin•Zurbriggen
Used namePirmin•Zurbriggen
Born4 February 1963 in Saas-Almagell, Valais (SUI)
Measurements183 cm / 83 kg
AffiliationsSC Saas-Almagell, Saas-Almagell (SUI)
NOC Switzerland
Medals OG
Gold 1
Silver 0
Bronze 1
Total 2

Biography

Pirmin Zurbriggen was one of the dominant skiers of the 1980s, and is considered among the all-time best alpine skiers. During his decade-long career, he won four world titles (1985: downhill, combined, 1987: Super G, giant slalom), and won the overall World Cup four times (1984, 1987, 1988 and 1990). In addition, he has won crystal globes for each of the five skiing disciplines at least once, 13 in total. In 1987, he won five out of six available World Cups, an unparalleled performance. Zurbriggen has won World Cup races in all five events as well, for a total of 40 between 1982 and 1990. After failing to medal at the 1984 Olympics, Zurbriggen won the 1988 Olympic downhill, as well as a bronze in the giant slalom. After his retirement in 1990, the name of Zurbriggen remained in the skiing world, as Pirmin’s younger sister Heidi took to the slopes, albeit with less success than her brother. Zurbriggen, who was picked as the “Swiss skier of the 20th century”, currently manages two hotels in Switzerland.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1984 Winter Olympics Alpine Skiing (Skiing) SUI Pirmin Zurbriggen
Downhill, Men (Olympic) 4
Giant Slalom, Men (Olympic) DNF
Slalom, Men (Olympic) DNF
1988 Winter Olympics Alpine Skiing (Skiing) SUI Pirmin Zurbriggen
Downhill, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
Super G, Men (Olympic) =5
Giant Slalom, Men (Olympic) 3 Bronze
Slalom, Men (Olympic) 7
Combined, Men (Olympic) DNF

Olympic family relations

Special Notes