Hansi Hinterseer

by Jason Ankeny
Austria's Hansi Hinterseer translated his fame as a downhill skiing champion into subsequent careers as a singer and actor. Born in Kitzbühel on February 2, 1954, he was the son of Ernst Hinterseer, who earned a gold medal in slalom skiing at the 1960 Winter Olympics. Following in his father's footsteps, Hansi joined the Austrian Ski Team in 1972 and a year later won the Alpine Skiing World Cup in giant slalom competition, the first of six World Cup victories. In 1974, Hinterseer claimed the silver medal at the world championship in St. Moritz, and in 1976 took part in the Innsbruck Winter Olympics. Upon retiring from competition in 1981, he signed with the National Austrian Broadcasting Corporation as a skiing commentator, and in 1994 launched a pop music career with the LP Wenn Man Sich Lieb Hat, the first in a series of hit releases including Danke für Deine Liebe, Du Bist Alles, and Vater, Dein Wille Geschehe. Concurrently Hinterseer forged an acting career as well, primarily appearing in telefilms including 1996's Hochwürdens Ärger mit dem Paradies and 2006's Da Wo das Glück Beginnt.