Which skier won the first Olympic men’s alpine skiing gold medal in 1936?

Franz Pfnür won the first Olympic men’s alpine skiing gold medal at the 1936 Winter Olympics.

Pfnür represented Germany at the Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where alpine skiing made its Olympic debut. He won the men’s combined event, which consisted of a downhill run and a slalom run. His teammate Anton Seelos took silver, giving Germany the top two places in the event.

The 1936 combined was not the same as the modern Olympic alpine combined format used in later eras. Alpine skiing’s Olympic program changed repeatedly, and separate downhill, slalom, giant slalom, and super-G events were introduced at different times. That history can make descriptions of the “first” alpine champion confusing.

Christl Cranz won the women’s combined at the same Games. Pfnür’s victory therefore marks the beginning of men’s Olympic alpine skiing competition, rather than the first Olympic downhill title as a separate event.