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Lydia Skoblikova (USSR) sets Olympic records and wins all four golds in speedskating events. |
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IX Olympics
For the first time in Winter Olympic history, the total number of athletes to attend a Winter Games topped 1,000. Luge made its debut; ski jumping was divided into two separate events; and bobsledding returned. The Innsbruck Olympics suffered from a shortage of snow, and had to have tons of the white stuff shipped in, with the help of the Austrian army. |
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- VITAL STATS
Attendance: 36 nations
Male athletes: 986
Female athletes: 200
Most-medaled country: USSR (25)
U.S. rank: 7th
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- HIGHLIGHTS
ï French sisters Christine Goitschel and Marielle Goitschel dueled for the gold medal in the Alpine skiing slalom and giant slalom events at Innsbruck. In the slalom, Christine won the gold, while Marielle settled for the silver. In the giant slalom, the winning order reversed, with Marielle taking the gold, and Christine the silver.
ï Lydia Skoblikova (USSR) was unbeatable in the women's speedskating events, winning all four gold medals available in competition. In the process, she also set three Olympic records in the 500m, 1,000m and 1,500.
ï Sixten Jernberg (Norway) retired from Olympic competition after winning his last medal, a gold in the 50 km cross-country event. In all, Jernberg had participated in three Olympic Winter Games, collecting four golds, three silver and two bronzes in Nordic events.
ï In the first luge events, German tobagganers sweep all three medals in the singles event, while German women took the gold and silver in the women's singles competition.
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