Klammer and Girardelli - a legendary duo
The two iconic ski legends Franz Klammer and Marc Girardelli were crowned Hahnenkamm Legends of the Year 2025 in front of tens of thousands of fans during the Downhill award ceremony.
Since 2015, esteemed athletes have been honoured at the Hahnenkamm Races. From Jean-Noel Augert to Hansi Hinterseer, Jean-Claude Killy and Anderl Molterer to Karl Schranz and many more, the list of ‘Hahnenkamm Legends’ of the year already reads like a who's who of the greatest skiers of all time. The honours are not only based on the athletes' successes, but also their anniversary. This year, two great personalities of winter sports will be delighted to receive the award: Franz Klammer (71) and Marc Girardelli (61).
Klammer, the Carinthian athlete with mischievous smile, competed in a total of 24 races between 1973 and 1985 (including the Slalom and Combined) and won four acclaimed victories. Many Austrians still fondly remember his triumph in 1984 - his last in Kitzbühel: ‘Franz Klammer characterised the downhill sport of the 1970s and 1980s and captivated spectators with his inimitable skiing style. 50 years after his first victory on the Streif, he more than deserves to be a Hahnenkamm Legend 2025,’ says Michael Huber, Organising Committee Chairman of the Hahnenkamm Races.
Marc Girardelli, a charismatic man from Vorarlberg who achieved his successes for Luxembourg, competed an incredible 29 times in Kitzbühel and claimed an even more extraordinary seven (!) victories. Only the two Wonder Team members Anderl Molterer (9 times) and Christian Pravda (8 times) celebrated more triumphs in Kitzbühel. Girardelli won three Slaloms, three Combined Races and the additional Downhill in 1989. Michael Huber remains impressed to this day: ‘Marc Girardelli has shaped a generation of ski racers as an exceptional all-rounder. With seven victories in all disciplines, he is an all-time hero on the Hahnenkamm. This puts him in second place behind Anderl Molterer and Christian Pravda ex aequo with Jean-Claude Killy. Marc is one of the greatest ski racers ever and, like Franz Klammer, a well-deserved Hahnenkamm legend 2025.’
Two of Girardelli’s seven Kitzbühel victories are celebrating anniversaries this year: he won the Slalom in 1985 and the Combined in 1995.
Photo © EXPA/Hans Groder
