Born: 11 February 1919, United States
Died: 17 February 1994
Country most active: United States
Also known as: Gretchen Kunigk
The following is republished from the Library of Congress. This piece falls under under public domain, as copyright does not apply to “any work of the U.S. Government” where “a work prepared by an officer or employee of the U.S. Government as part of that person’s official duties” (See, 17 U.S.C. §§ 101, 105).
Referred to in newspapers as a “skier-housewife,” Gretchen Fraser was an incredible force on the slopes. She surprised everyone in 1948 when she placed first in the women’s slalom, winning a gold medal–the first medal ever for the U.S. in any skiing event. She continued her Olympic streak by also winning a silver medal in the women’s alpine combined. The Evening Star notes that not only were those the first medals for the U.S. in skiing, but “the first Olympic ski medals ever taken to the Western side of the Atlantic.”
Although Fraser announced soon after returning from the 1948 Olympic games that she was retiring from competition, and gave birth to her son less than a year later, she continued coaching for many years. She even became a coach and trainer to the next U.S. Olympic ski medalist, Andrea Mead Lawrence.