Kathy Kreiner

2.1. Early Childhood and Upbringing

Katharine Kreiner was born on May 4, 1957, in Timmins, Ontario, Canada. She was the youngest of six children born to Margaret (Peggy) Kreiner (1921-2011) and Harold O. Kreiner (1920-1999). Her father, Harold, was a physician in Timmins and also served as her coach during her formative years, guiding her until she joined the national team. Beyond coaching his daughter, Harold Kreiner was deeply involved in the sport at a national level, serving as the team doctor for the Canadian alpine ski team at the 1966 World Championships in Portillo, Chile, and for the Canadian Olympic team at the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France. This family background provided a strong foundation and early exposure to the competitive world of alpine skiing.

2.2. Early Career Development

Kreiner emerged as an alpine racing prodigy in Canada from a young age. At just 13 years old, she secured a spot on the national 'B' team, demonstrating exceptional talent and potential. After a year with the 'B' team, her rapid progression led to her promotion to the national 'A' team in the summer of 1971. Her debut on the World Cup circuit came early, with her first top-ten result recorded in mid-January 1972. This achievement was a sixth-place finish in a downhill race held in Grindelwald, Switzerland, when she was only 14 years old. Her first World Cup podium finish followed in 1973 at Alyeska Resort in Alaska, where she placed third in a giant slalom event. Her first and only World Cup victory was achieved at the age of 16 in 1974, winning a giant slalom race in Pfronten, West Germany.

3.1. Olympic Career

Kreiner participated in three Winter Olympic Games, leaving her most indelible mark at the 1976 Games.

• 1972 Winter Olympics (Sapporo, Japan): At only 14 years old, Kreiner made her Olympic debut. She finished 14th in the slalom and 33rd in the downhill.
• 1976 Winter Olympics (Innsbruck, Austria): This was the pinnacle of Kreiner's career. On February 13, 1976, she won the gold medal in the giant slalom. Starting first out of the gate, Kreiner's victory was a major upset, as she prevented the formidable Rosi Mittermaier, who had already won two gold medals, from sweeping all three women's alpine events. Mittermaier ultimately took the silver medal in that race. Kreiner's gold medal was particularly significant for Canada, as it was the country's only gold medal at the Innsbruck Games. The win even surprised Kreiner herself; she had already shipped most of her belongings home from Innsbruck and had to borrow a uniform for the medal ceremony. In other events at the 1976 Games, she did not finish the first run (DNF1) in the slalom and placed 19th in the downhill.
• 1980 Winter Olympics (Lake Placid, United States): Competing at Whiteface Mountain, Kreiner continued to perform strongly in her third Olympic appearance. She finished fifth in the downhill, ninth in the giant slalom, and 15th in the slalom.

3.2. FIS World Cup Career

Kreiner competed for ten seasons on the World Cup circuit, from 1972 to 1981. During her World Cup career, she achieved one victory, seven podium finishes (six in giant slalom and one in downhill), and a total of 47 top-ten results. Her only World Cup victory came in a giant slalom race in Pfronten, West Germany, in 1974. Her last giant slalom podium was in March 1977 at Sun Valley, Idaho, where she placed second. Her final World Cup podium, a second-place finish in downhill, occurred in December 1980 in Val-d'Isère, France, during her last season. In her final season (1980-81), she raced independently of the Canadian national team. Her best overall World Cup season standing was 10th in 1974, and her highest discipline standing was 4th in giant slalom in 1977.

The following table summarizes her World Cup season standings:

Points were awarded for top ten finishes through 1979, and for top fifteen finishes thereafter, according to the scoring system of the time.

Her World Cup race podiums are detailed below:

3.3. World Championship Results

From the 1948 Winter Olympics through the 1980 Winter Olympics, the Winter Olympics also served concurrently as the World Championships for alpine skiing. This meant that the Olympic champion was also recognized as the world champion.

The following table details her World Championship results:

At World Championships from 1954 through 1980, the combined event was a "paper race," meaning its results were calculated from the performances in the three individual events: downhill, giant slalom, and slalom.

4.1. Family and Marriage

Kathy Kreiner married Dave Phillips, who was a former freestyle skier and a member of the Canadian national team. Her older sister, Laurie Kreiner, also pursued a career in alpine skiing, becoming a World Cup racer and a two-time Olympian. Laurie competed alongside Kathy in the 1976 Winter Olympics, starting 28th in the giant slalom. Laurie had previously come close to an Olympic medal in the 1972 Winter Olympics, finishing fourth in the giant slalom.

5.1. Awards and Honors

Following her historic Olympic victory in 1976, Kathy Kreiner was named the Canadian Female Athlete of the Year. Her achievements were quickly recognized by the broader sports community, leading to her induction into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame at the remarkably young age of 18. Later, in 2002, she was also inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, further solidifying her place among Canada's most celebrated athletes.

5.2. Community and Regional Significance

As of 2020, Kathy Kreiner remains the only Olympic gold medalist from her hometown of Timmins, Ontario. This unique status has made her a celebrated figure in the community, symbolizing athletic excellence and inspiring future generations in the region. Her achievement continues to be a source of pride for Timmins.