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  • Writer's pictureRaúl Revuelta

Alpine Ski World Champions: Erika Hess

Updated: Aug 16



Erika Hess (Wolfenschiessen, Nidwalden, March 6, 1962) is a former World Cup Alpine Ski racer from Switzerland. Hess won six World Championship gold medals between 1982 and 1987 and took bronze in the Slalom at the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at age 17. She also won 31 World Cup races (22 in slalom), four slalom titles (1981, 1982, 1983, and 1985), and two World Cup Overall titles in 1982 and 1984.


She made her World Championship debut at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships held in Germany at Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 1978, finishing in ninth place in the Giant Slalom.


At the 1980 Olympic Winter Games held in Lake Placid, she failed to complete the second run in the Giant Slalom event but finished fifth in both runs of the Slalom, earning a bronze medal.


Erika Hess won three golds in the Slalom, Giant Slalom, and Combined at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships held in Schladming in 1982. The combined event returned in Schladming as a separate event, consisting of one Downhill and two Slalom runs.


Three years later, Hess was able to successfully defend her World Combined Champion title. The 1985 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, held in Bormio, was the first world championship held in an odd year and the last without the Super-G event.


She won her last two gold medals in Slalom and Combined at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships held in Crans-Montana in 1987.


Erika Hess retired in March 1987.



Olympic Winter Games Starts: 4

Olympic Winter Games Medals: 1 


FIS Alpine World Ski Championships Starts: 10 

FIS Alpine World Ski Championships Podiums: 7 

FIS Alpine World Ski Championships Victories: 6 


FIS World Cup Starts: 165 

FIS World Cup Podiums: 76

FIS World Cup Victories: 31

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