View source for Gerda Weissensteiner

{{short description|Italian bobsledder and luger}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Gerda Weissensteiner
| image = 
| caption = 
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|1|3|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Bolzano]], Italy
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| height = {{convert|166|cm|ftin}}
| weight = {{convert|63|kg|lb}}
| nationality = Italian
| residence = 
| country = Italy
| sport = [[Luge]]<br />[[Bobsleigh]]
| event = 
| club = [[Gruppo Sportivo Forestale|G.S. Forestale]]
| retired = 
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Women's [[luge]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Luge at the Winter Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1994 Winter Olympics|1994 Lillehammer]]|[[Luge at the 1994 Winter Olympics|Women's singles]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[FIL World Luge Championships|World Championships]] }}
{{MedalGold|[[FIL World Luge Championships 1989|1989 Winterberg]]|Mixed team}}
{{MedalGold|[[FIL World Luge Championships 1993|1993 Calgary]]|Women's singles}}
{{MedalSilver|[[FIL World Luge Championships 1989|1989 Winterberg]]|Women's singles}}
{{MedalSilver|[[FIL World Luge Championships 1990|1990 Calgary]]|Mixed team}}
{{MedalSilver|[[FIL World Luge Championships 1995|1995 Lillehammer]]|Mixed team}}
{{MedalBronze|[[FIL World Luge Championships 1991|1991 Winterberg]]|Mixed team}}
{{MedalBronze|[[FIL World Luge Championships 1993|1993 Calgary]]|Mixed team}}
{{MedalBronze|[[FIL World Luge Championships 1995|1995 Lillehammer]]|Women's singles}}
{{MedalBronze|[[FIL World Luge Championships 1996|1996 Altenberg]]|Women's singles}}
{{MedalBronze|[[FIL World Luge Championships 1996|1996 Altenberg]]|Mixed team}}
{{MedalBronze|[[FIL World Luge Championships 1997|1997 Igls]]|Mixed team}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[List of Luge World Cup champions|World Cup]] }}
{{MedalGold|1992-93 |Women's singles}}
{{MedalGold|1997-98 |Women's singles}}
{{MedalSilver|1988-89 |Women's singles}}
{{MedalSilver|1989-90 |Women's singles}}
{{MedalSilver|1990-91 |Women's singles}}
{{MedalSilver|1995-96 |Women's singles}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[FIL European Luge Championships|European Championships]] }}
{{MedalGold|[[FIL European Luge Championships 1994|1994 Königssee]]|Women's singles}}
{{MedalGold|[[FIL European Luge Championships 1994|1994 Königssee]]|Mixed team}}
{{MedalSilver|[[FIL European Luge Championships 1990|1990 Igls]]|Women's singles}}
{{MedalSilver|[[FIL European Luge Championships 1998|1998 Oberhof]]|Mixed team}}
{{MedalBronze|[[FIL European Luge Championships 1988|1988 Königssee]]|Mixed team}}
{{MedalBronze|[[FIL European Luge Championships 1990|1990 Igls]]|Mixed team}}
{{MedalBronze|[[FIL European Luge Championships 1996|1996 Sigulda]]|Mixed team}}
<!--
-->{{MedalSport|Women's [[bobsleigh]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2006 Winter Olympics|2006 Turin]]|[[Bobsleigh at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Two-woman|Two woman]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[List of Bobsleigh World Cup champions|World Cup]] }}
{{MedalBronze|2002-03 |Two-woman}}
{{MedalBronze|2003-04 |Two-woman}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Bobsleigh and Skeleton European Championship|European Championships]] }}
{{MedalSilver | 2006 St. Moritz | Two-woman }}
| show-medals = no
}}

'''Gerda Weissensteiner''' [[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic|OMRI]] (born 3 January 1969) is an Italian [[luge]]r and [[bobsleigh]] pilot who competed from the late 1980s to 2006. Competing in six [[Winter Olympics]], she won the gold medal in the women's singles luge event at the [[1994 Winter Olympics]] in [[Lillehammer]], and together with [[Jennifer Isacco]] she won the bronze in [[Turin]] in the two-woman bobsleigh at the [[2006 Winter Olympics]]. She was the first Italian sportsperson to win Olympic medals in two disciplines.<ref name=fisi />

==Luge career==
Weissensteiner was introduced to luge by her uncle at the age of seven, initially sledding on [[List of natural luge tracks|natural luge tracks]].<ref name=fisi>{{cite web|url=https://www.fisi.org/federazione/hall-of-fame/halloffame/18788|title=Gerda Weissensteiner|author=<!--Not stated-->|website=[[Italian Winter Sports Federation]]|language=Italian|access-date=16 February 2019|archive-date=11 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711111445/https://www.fisi.org/federazione/hall-of-fame/halloffame/18788|url-status=dead}}</ref> She won a World Junior Luge Championship title in 1988.<ref name=sr />

Weissensteiner won eleven medals at the [[FIL World Luge Championships]], including two gold (Women's singles: [[FIL World Luge Championships 1993|1993]], Mixed team: [[FIL World Luge Championships 1989|1989]]), three silvers (Women's singles: 1989, Mixed team: [[FIL World Luge Championships 1990|1990]], [[FIL World Luge Championships 1995|1995]]), and six bronzes (Women's singles: 1995, [[FIL World Luge Championships 1996|1996]]; Mixed team: [[FIL World Luge Championships 1991|1991]], 1993, 1996, [[FIL World Luge Championships 1997|1997]]).

She was also won seven medals at the [[FIL European Luge Championships]] with two golds (Mixed team and Women's singles: both in [[FIL European Luge Championships 1994|1994]]), two silvers (Women's singles: [[FIL European Luge Championships 1990|1990]]; Mixed team: [[FIL European Luge Championships 1998|1998]]), and three bronzes (Mixed team: [[FIL European Luge Championships 1988|1988]], [[FIL European Luge Championships 1990|1990]], [[FIL European Luge Championships 1996|1996]]).

Weissensteiner won the overall [[List of Luge World Cup champions|Luge World Cup]] title in women's singles twice (1992-3, 1997-8). She took a total of 13 wins, eight second places and eight third places in World Cup races. She was also the flagbearer at the opening ceremonies of the [[1998 Winter Olympics]] in [[Nagano, Nagano|Nagano]]. Her Olympic triumph was dampened by the death of her brother in a car accident a few days later: during his funeral, a burglar broke into Weissensteiner's home and stole her gold medal. Following the Games she retired from luge, becoming a youth luge coach.<ref name=fisi />

==Bobsleigh career==
Weissensteiner returned to sledding as a bobsleigh pilot in 2001. She finished seventh in the 2-woman bobsleigh (with the former [[Bicycle|biker]] [[Antonella Bellutti]], a gold medalist in [[track cycling]]) at the 2002 Winter Olympics. After the 2002 Games she teamed up with sprinter Jennifer Isacco, who she competed with until her retirement from the sport.<ref name=fisi /> Their best finish in the [[List of Bobsleigh World Cup champions|Bobsleigh World Cup]] was third twice in the two-woman event. (2002-3, 2003-4 (tied with [[Germany]]'s [[Susi Erdmann]])). She finished sixth in the 2-woman bobsleigh event at the [[FIBT World Championships 2005|2005 FIBT World Championships]] in [[Calgary, Alberta]], [[Canada]]. The following year, Weissensteiner and Isacco finished second in the [[Bobsleigh and Skeleton European Championship|European Championships]],<ref name=sr>{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/we/gerda-weissensteiner-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417095509/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/we/gerda-weissensteiner-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 April 2020 |title=Gerda Weissensteiner |author=<!--Not stated-->| website=[[Sports Reference]]|access-date=16 February 2019}}</ref> and Weissensteiner joined Erdmann as being one of only two sledders to win a medal in both [[Bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics|bobsleigh]] and [[luge at the Winter Olympics]].

She retired from all competition after the 2006 Winter Olympics in [[Turin]]. That year she was appointed as a Knight of the [[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]]. In addition she has a [[rhododendron]] named after her:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/247583/Rhododendron-Gerda-Weissensteiner-(EA)/Details |title=Rhododendron 'Gerda Weissensteiner' (EA) |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=[[rhs.org.uk]] |access-date=16 February 2019}}</ref> this was part of a collaboration between the [[Accademia dei Georgofili]] and the [[Italian National Olympic Committee]] to name an [[azalea]] after each medal winner at the 2006 Winter Olympics and the [[2006 Winter Paralympics]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Scariot |first1=Valentina  |last2=Merlo |first2=Francesco |year=2008 |title=Riflessioni su camelia e azalea |trans-title=Reflections on camelia and azalea |url=http://www.georgofili.net/File/Get?c=271ec66d-d2de-4942-b000-3462ec6d5934 |access-date=16 February 2019 |journal=Atti dell'Accademia dei Georgofili|series=8 |language=Italian |location=[[Florence]], [[Italy]] |publisher=[[Accademia dei Georgofili]] |volume=3 |issue=2 |pages=279–283  |issn=0367-4134 }}</ref> Subsequently, she returned to youth coaching in luge as well as working as a [[press officer]] for the Italian Luge Federation.<ref name=sr />

==See also==
* [[List of athletes with the most appearances at Olympic Games]]
* [[List of athletes with Olympic medals in different disciplines]]
* [[Italy at the Olympics#Women gold medalist|Italian sportswomen multiple medalists at Olympics and World Championships]]

==References==
* [http://www.todor66.com/olim/1988w/Luge_Women_Singles.html 1988 luge women's singles results]
* [http://www.todor66.com/olim/1992w/Luge_Women_Singles.html 1992 luge women's singles results]
* [http://www.todor66.com/olim/1998w/Luge_Women_Singles.html 1998 luge women's singles results]
* [http://www.todor66.com/olim/2002w/Bobsleigh_Women_Doubles.html 2002 bobsleigh two-woman results]
* [http://sports123.com/bob/wo-2.html Bobsleigh two-woman Olympic medalists since 2002] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030930084714/http://sports123.com/bob/wo-2.html |date=30 September 2003 }}
* {{FIBT profile|100268|Gerda Weissensteiner}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610220058/http://www.fuzilogik.com/Luge/Women-s-Luge-Olympic-Medals.html |title=Fuzilogik Sports - Winter Olympic results - Women's luge |date=2015-06-10}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630054011/http://www.hickoksports.com/history/olluge.shtml |title=Hickoksports.com results on Olympic champions in luge and skeleton. |date=2007-06-30}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20121204165409/http://www.hickoksports.com/history/worldluge.shtml |title=Hickok sports information on World champions in luge and skeleton. |date=2012-12-04}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722030929/http://torino2006.coni.it/index.php?id=345 |title=Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) profile |date=2011-07-22}} {{in lang|it}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325014953/http://www.eiskanal.com/eiskanal-kunstbahnrennrodeln-europameisterschaften.html |title=List of European luge champions |date=2008-03-25}} {{in lang|de}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105081037/http://sports123.com/bob/wwc-2.html |title=List of two-woman bobsleigh World Cup champions since 1995 |date=2011-11-05}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206094157/http://sports123.com/lug/wwc-s.html |title=List of women's singles luge World Cup champions since 1978. |date=2008-02-06}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927035935/http://www.sportquick.com/techlist.asp?SearchResult=Envoi&list0=Luge&list1=Championnats%20du%20Monde%20piste%20artificielle&list2=&shot2=T&shot3=Champion |title=SportQuick.com information on World champions in luge |date=2007-09-27}} {{in lang|fr}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Sports-reference|we/gerda-weissensteiner-1.html|Gerda Weissensteiner}}

{{Navboxes
| title=Related
| list1=
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{{succession box
| before = [[Deborah Compagnoni]]
| title = {{flagicon|ITA}} [[List of flag bearers for Italy at the Olympics#Winter Olympics|Flag bearer for Italy]]
| years = [[1998 Winter Olympics|1998 Nagano]]
| after = [[Isolde Kostner]]
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions Luge Women's Singles}}
{{Footer World Champions Luge Women's Singles}}
{{Footer World Champions Luge Mixed Team}}
{{Footer European Champions Luge Women's Singles}}
{{Footer European Champions Luge Mixed Team}}
{{Footer World Cup Champions Luge Women's Singles}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Weissensteiner, Gerda}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Bolzano]]
[[Category:Bobsledders from South Tyrol]]
[[Category:Lugers from South Tyrol]]
[[Category:Italian female bobsledders]]
[[Category:Italian female lugers]]
[[Category:Bobsledders at the 2002 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Bobsledders at the 2006 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Lugers at the 1988 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Lugers at the 1992 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Lugers at the 1994 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Lugers at the 1998 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic bobsledders for Italy]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Italy]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Italy]]
[[Category:Olympic lugers for Italy]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in bobsleigh]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in luge]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2006 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1994 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Knights of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]]
[[Category:Italian sports coaches]]
[[Category:Germanophone Italian people]]
[[Category:20th-century Italian sportswomen]]