Doris De Agostini - Swiss downhill specialist, Olympian, World Champion

Doris De Agostini, who competed in two Winter Olympic Games and won a World Championships bronze medal, died November 22 following a short illness. She was 62.

Born in Ticino, Switzerland, De Agostini burst onto the international race scene when she won her first World Cup in 1976 in the downhill in Bad Gastein, Austria. She was 17. She competed in the World Cup from 1976-1983 and won eight races. She achieved 19 World Cup podium finishes during her career.

De Agostini competed in in the 1976 Innsbruck and 1980 Lake Placid Olympic Games. In 1978, she won the bronze medal in the downhill at the World Championship in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

In 1983, she retired at the peak of her career at age 25. That year she won the downhills at Val d’Isère, France, Schruns, Austria, and Les Diablerets, Switzerland, which helped earn her the overall World Cup downhill title and being named the Swiss Sportswoman of the Year.

In 1983, De Agostini retired at the peak of her career at 25, ending the World Cup season as the downhill champion. Her final season saw her win downhills in Val d’Isère, France, Schruns, Austria and Les Diablerets, Switzerland. She also was named Swiss Sportswoman of the Year.