Pichler, Ralph

Ralph Pichler was born on April 20, 1954 in the city of Thun , canton of Bern . He began to actively engage in bobsleigh in 1978, joined the national team of Switzerland as a pilot and soon became a full member of the team. At first, he competed in a pair with overclocking Ekkehard Fasser , along with him he won silver at the Youth World Championship in Winterberg, Germany. At the 1982 European Championships in Cortina d'Ampezzo, finished first in the program of four-seater crews, winning a gold medal. In 1983, he took third place at the European Championships held in Yugoslavia, and for the second time he was awarded the title of world champion, having won gold at the world championship in Lake Placid.

Thanks to a series of successful performances in 1984, Pichler went to defend the country's honor at the Olympic Games in Sarajevo , where he finished sixth in the two, which also included overclocking Rico Freiermouth . In 1986, at the World Championships in German Königssee, he replenished the medal collection with silver in doubles and bronze in fours. He was no less successful for the athlete in 1987, when at the world championship in St. Moritz he came first among double crews and third among four-seater, and also took bronze at the European Championship in Cervinia.

He continued to perform at a high level until the end of the 1980s, but already less successfully. Unable to compete with the young Swiss bobsledders, age Ralph Pichler decided to end his career as a professional athlete. Now lives in Canada with his wife Marla and two sons Yannick and Jarette.

• List of World Championship winners on the official FIBT website
• Ralph Pichler (English) - Olympic results at sports-reference.com