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Toni Sailer Obituary
Sailer passed away in Innsbruck on Monday after a long illness, his Kitzbuehel Ski Club said in a statement Tuesday.
Sailer won gold in the downhill, slalom and giant slalom at the 1956 Cortina Olympics in Italy. At the world championships there, he took gold in the downhill, slalom, giant slalom and combined.
He also won gold in the downhill, giant slalom and combined, as well as silver in the slalom, at the world championships in Bad Gastein, Austria two years later. Due to his speed, he became known as "the black lightning bolt from Kitz."
After retiring from competition in 1959, Sailer became a singer and an actor. He also produced skis in Canada and served as technical director of the Austrian Ski Federation between 1972 and 1976.
He was awarded the Olympic Order by the International Olympic Committee in 1985. In 1999, the Kitzbuehel native - who reportedly stood on skis for the first time at the age of two - was honored as Austria's sportsman of the century.
Other Austrian ski greats expressed sadness at the news of Sailer's death.
Franz Klammer, the 1976 Olympic downhill gold medalist, said he idolized Sailer as a child.
"As a small boy, I wanted to be just like him," Klammer was quoted as saying by the Austria Press Agency.
Funeral details were not immediately available.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press
36 Entries
November 26, 2010
Toni,you were unusually person,had a good heart.
Thanks and rest in peace.
/Marita Areschoug,järfälla sweden
marita areschoug
May 10, 2010
MAY 10 ,2010
You may rest in peace,and thanks to you all good things you did in this life
/Marita A.
October 19, 2009
Thank you for being Toni Sailer.
Rest in peace.
Shin, Japan
Lou crescentini
September 13, 2009
My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
How you can show support
September 11, 2009
When the snow falls, we'll all take a run in your memory, with thanks for the thrill of following your accomplishments, and trying to emulate your supreme stlyle, on and off the slopes. Much sympathy and love to the family. J.M.
[email protected] /Joe Fazio
September 10, 2009
For Toni
May you find the slopes
peaceful wih Him and
those that have passed that
you loved.
WEEP NOT FOR ME
Do not weep for me when I no longer dwell among the wonders of the earth; for my larger self is free, and my soul rejoices on the other side of pain...on the other side of darkness.
Do not weep for me, for I am a ray of sunshine that touches your skin, a tropical breeze upon your face, the hush of joy within your heart and the innocence of babes in mothers arms.
I am the hope in a darkened night. And, in your hour of need, I will be there to comfort you. I will share your tears, your joys, your fears, your disappointments and your triumphs.
Do not weep for me, for I am cradled
in the arms of God. I walk with the angels, and hear the music beyond the stars.
Do not weep for me, for I am within you;
I am peace, love, I am a soft wind that caresses the flowers. I am the calm that follows a raging storm. I am an autumns leaf that floats among the garden of God, and I am pure white snow that softly falls upon your hand.
Do not weep for me, for I shall never die, as long as you remember me...
with a smile and a sigh.
© Joe Fazio
Ron Reagin
September 9, 2009
I took ski lessons in Kutzbul one year along with my wife an we had to pass his exam to graduate onto the next class. One of the most intimidating things I've ever had to do. But I passed an later he bought the whole class a drink what a man, put what a skier.
Carol van Moorsel
September 8, 2009
My thoughts and prayers are with your family with memories of a great man. I know he will be missed.
JON LOWDER
September 8, 2009
My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
Joy Brower
September 7, 2009
The news of the great Toni Sailer's death brought back memories of my youth, my first days on the slopes (a lifelong beginner!!) and the thrill I felt watching his Olympic victories on black & white TV. Of course, to top it off, he was super handsome and easy to have a real (albeit seasonal!) crush on. May he rest in peace and ski forever in the clouds with angels. I just felt such a pang of sorrow. One of the greats, that's for sure!
Mike B.
September 5, 2009
I had the honor of calling Mr. Sailer "coach" a long time ago. My thoughts of him are...an encourager, and a teacher.
HILDEGARD F.
September 4, 2009
HE WAS THE MOST HANDSOME GUY BACK IN THE FIFTIES. WAS MY IDOL THEN, WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER AT HOME IN GERMANY.MY SYMPATHIES TO THE SAILER FAMILY.
FORMERLY FROM BREMERHAVEN/GERMANY
Sharon P
September 3, 2009
Deeply sorry for your loss. My prayers are with your family during this trying time. John 6:39,40
Cherise (John 11:25)
September 1, 2009
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
Gabriele McNeal
August 31, 2009
May you rest in peace for ever.
Condolences to the Sailer Family.
I remember you from Munich.
Ray Geary
August 31, 2009
My sympathies to the family of Toni Sailer. Although I never had the pleasure or thrill of meeting Mr. Sailer, I used to read about him as a novice skiing teenager hoping that one day I could ski like him.He was greatness an inspiration and a true champion.
Ray Geary
Joe & Helga Menhorn
August 30, 2009
Dear Sailer Family,
May these words of comfort in same way
serve to show that others care.
God be with you.
Joe&Helga(Kessler)Menhorn
Myrtle Beach SC.
from Heilbronn a/Neckar(Germany)
Heide Withers
August 30, 2009
August 30 /2009
My heart goes out to his Family , he is suffering no longer ,
but he will never be forgotten, not by his Family and friends , and not by me.
Douglas Bamlett
August 30, 2009
Tony I wore out your book on how to ski. I became as good a skier as I'd ever hoped to be and you were my first professional inspiration to the sport.
August 30, 2009
I was influenced by Toni Sailer as a young teenager in the USA - in the 1950s. We, in the good old days, of provincial skiiing, non touristy spots, in the northeastern USA, watched and followed his triumphs.
He is a legend from the past and now gone The bell tolls for all of us of a certain sge as we watch the giants of our youth disappear.
Mary Louise Murray-Johnson
NY and Heidelberg, Germany
jim swanson
August 30, 2009
you thrilled us with your talent, while we lived in the flats of the U.S. you brought a vision to us of excellence among the fantastic mountains of the world..you will be missed but always honored among ski people.
Janice Smith
August 30, 2009
My heart goes out to the family and friends of Toni Sailer. He was an amazing athlete, with his own unique technique for skiing. I was fortunate enough to have taken lessons from Toni in the early 80's at the Toni Sailer, Nancy Greene Summer Ski camp in Whistler.
Martin Rose
August 30, 2009
Dear Toni, thank you so much for the arrangements, contributions and really great memories from the original 1974 Professor Heinrich Harrer Cup that you helped make one of the greatest events for so many young Skiers. You encouraged so many with your talents and more importantly with your kindness and true freindship. We will remember and miss you forever.
Bill Morse
August 29, 2009
Toni, you will always remain my hero on and off the slopes. May God raise you, Toni, to His highest summmit.
Love you, Sir.
L. Mary Sigley
August 28, 2009
Rest in Peace, Toni, I had a girlhood crush on you when I was 12. No one ever skiied like you did.
Raymond Ankenbrandt
August 28, 2009
My sincere condolences to the Sailer family. I met Toni when I was in the US Army and visited his friends in Austria. What a lasting impression. God Bless.
Jon Lowder
August 28, 2009
My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
Henryk Zaleski
August 27, 2009
Rest in peace among other stars.
louis carwell
August 27, 2009
Toni Sailer,you were great,rest in peace and God Bless.
HANS NIKISCHER
August 26, 2009
My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
The Boisselle Family
August 26, 2009
He will be remembered by many as one of the greats in the field of skiing. our condolences go out to the family and friends.
May the Almighty comfort you through his Word. He promise by means of his son Jesus Christ who said,"I am the resurrection and the life. He that exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life." - John 11:25
R Golay
August 26, 2009
May God the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ give you comfort during this time of sorrow. Tinu will be remembered by a score of individuals throughout this country - God Bless
Chele
August 25, 2009
It is always sad to lose a love one, my condolences to the family. May God give you the strength you need to get through each day.
Hank Mcguire
August 25, 2009
To the friends and family members of Mr. Toni Sailer,
Our Sympathy goes out to you all.
And the God of Love has given us his promise at
Acts 24:15 which says
"There is going to be a resurrection of the righteous.
Bettie Welch
August 25, 2009
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
Helmut Kogler
August 25, 2009
My condolences to Toni's wife, his son and brother Rudi, who went to school with me. As a born Kitzbueheler, I was with thousands of other Kitzbuehel residents when Toni returned by train from Cortina, after winning 3 gold medals in the Olympics. What an unforgetable moment! Toni, rest in peace. You will always be my idol.
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