Name/Title
Print, PhotographicEntry/Object ID
0173Description
Gretchen Kunigk Fraser of Tacoma adeptly skis around a pole en route to a victory in what was called a Special Slalom on May 5, 1948 as fans watch from the hillside in appreciation. Three months earlier, Gretchen had become the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in skiing, finishing first in the women's slalom in the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland. She also took the silver medal that year in the women's combined event. Gretchen Fraser was born in 1919 to parents who were German and Norwegian immigrants. Her mother taught her to ski at age 13 and she excelled under the tutelage of Otto Lang, later competing on the University of Puget Sound ski team. She met 1936 Olympian Donald Fraser in 1938 and the two married the following year. Both Frasers were members of the U.S. Olympic team in 1940, when the Games were cancelled due to World War II. Following her Olympic victory, Kunigk Fraser did not regularly ski competitively, but continued volunteer efforts with disabled skiers. She had become known as America's lady of Skiing and was inducted into the National Ski Hall of Fame in 1960, the same year she was tabbed for the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame. She is also a member of the University of Puget Sound Hall of Fame. Gretchen died at age 75 in February of 1994, one month after Donald, her husband of 54 years, had passed away.Lexicon
Search Terms
Skiing, Women's Skiing, Olympics, Special Slalom, SlalomRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Kunigk-Fraser, GretchenPerson or Organization
SlalomPerson or Organization
Special Slalom