Liechtenstein at the Olympics
The Principality of Liechtenstein formed the Liechtenstein Olympic Committee in 1935 and had it officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee in the same year. The following year, they made their debut in both the Summer (Berlin, Germany) and the Winter (Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany) Games.
Xaver Frick, one of the first members of their Olympic committee is also the only Liechtenstein Olympian who has competed in both the Summer and the Winter Games. Since their debut in the Summer Games, they have only missed it twice (1956 and 1980).
They also have never won a single Olympic medal in the Summer Games but they have done relatively well in the Winter Games.
Athletes from Liechtenstein have won a total of ten medals, all in alpine skiing. Liechtenstein is the smallest country in the world by both area and population to have won Olympic Winter Olympic medals. They are also the only country to win an Olympic medal in the Winter Games but not the Summer Olympics.
In 1976, alpine skiers Willi Frommelt and Hanni Wenzel won the bronze in the men's and women's slalom respectively in Innsbruck, Austria. In Lake Placid, New York, USA, Liechtenstein got a taste of their first-ever Olympic gold. Alpine skier Hanni Wenzel came back to the Olympics and won the gold in both the women's giant slalom and women's slalom as well as the silver in women's downhill. Another alpine skier Andreas Wenzel also won the silver in men's giant slalom. That is their best performance in the Winter Games to date.
Trivia
- During the opening ceremony of the 1936 berlin Olympic Games, athletes from Liechtenstein were shocked to discover that their flag was identical to the flag of Haiti. After the games, a yellow crown was added to the flag of Liechtenstein.
Related Pages
- Liechtenstein at the Winter Olympics
- List of all countries that have participated at the Olympic Games.
- About sport in Liechtenstein
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