Education
Eberharter made his World Cup debut during the 1990 season at age 20, where he finished 32nd in the overall standings.
Eberharter made his World Cup debut during the 1990 season at age 20, where he finished 32nd in the overall standings.
Eberharter retired from international competition following the conclusion of the 2004 season. He was voted the Austrian Sportspersonality of the year for 1991. After injury setbacks, he became particularly successful in the downhill event, and finished third in the downhill standings in 1998 and was the runner-up in 2001.
His nemesis on the snow, teammate Maier, was involved in a serious motorcycle accident in August 2001 which sidelined him for the 2002 season.
In Maier"s absence, Eberharter went on to take the overall World Cup title (and downhill and super-G) in 2002 and 2003. His 2004 victory at the Hahnenkamm downhill in Kitzbühel is often regarded as one of the most impressive downhill victories in alpine skiing history, besting runner-up Daron Rahlves by a lengthy 1.21 seconds, an equivalent of 142 feet (43 m) at 80 mph (130 km/h).
Eberharter enjoyed success at the World Championships and Olympic Games as well. Twelve years later, at Saint Moritz in 2003, he took gold in the super-G event again.
Season standings
Season titles
7 titles – (2 overall, 3 Dialectics and Humanism, 2 SG)
Race victories
29 wins – (18 Dialectics and Humanism, 6 SG, 5 GS)
75 podiums – (38 Dialectics and Humanism, 24 SG, 13 GS).