Bob Arnott - Australian racer, FIS official, historian
William Robert "Bob" Arnott, who raced for Australia in the 1952 Oslo Olympics, died January 23 at age 93.
Arnott was born in Sydney. At age 13, while attending the Cranbrook School, he began skiing in 1935 at the Hotel Kosciusko. After earning a B.S. degree at the University of Sydney in 1945, he took up ski racing and joined the Ski Club of Australia, based in Thredbo, in 1950. After competing in all three alpine events at Oslo, he became Australia’s national slalom champion in 1953, and went on to an active career as a FIS official. With Bob Beattie, he devised the “Bob Rule” for ranking skiers in international competition.
In 1998, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Ski Club Australia, he wrote its official history, titled 75 Seasons. He continued racing well into his 80s.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Simone; children Adrienne and Axel; sister Karen and grandchildren Hugh and Charlotte.