Sport

Standing ovation for the “Ski Emperor”: Why Franz Klemm was overwhelmed

Franz Klemm doesn’t just enter the stage, he appears. The aura that surrounds the 1976 Olympic champion and winner of 25 World Cup downhill runs was literally tangible in the Brucknerhaus in Linz. The “Ski Emperor” fascinates young and old. Even those who only know his sporting achievements through stories lined up for selfies and autographs.

Bracket, who celebrated his 70th birthday on December 3rd, was the superstar of the gala night of sports in the absence of football team boss Ralf Rangnick, who was “stricken” by a flu-like infection. Because he has remained so down-to-earth, always has insults on his lips and is simply a popular figure.

From left: Gino Cuturi, Rainer Stadler and Franz Klemm
Image: Volker Weihbold

Anyone who thinks that nothing and no one can surprise the veteran Klemm is mistaken. When the approximately 2,500 visitors gave him a minute-long standing ovation, the legend also got wet in his eyes. He thought he was a “normal” Alex Reed and left with a special award.

Bracket received the “Sports Life Award Austria” from Oberösterreichische Nachrichten (Gino Cuturi, managing partner of Medienhaus Wimmer) and LIVA (Rainer Stadler, commercial director).

Picture gallery: Prominent guests at the Gala Night of Sports 2024

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“I didn’t expect that. It’s overwhelming how much sympathy I receive here. It’s a wonderful feeling today, as it was back then, to receive so much recognition,” said Klemm and chatted from the inside out: “The successes have made you grow . The basics remain the same. It’s important to appreciate what comes to you.”

Bracket and the scary yellow suit

Clip was asked by the presenter duo Tom Walek and Silvia Schneider regarding his distinctive yellow racing suit. “Maybe I made it so fast because the bright color scared the others,” said the champion with a smile.

When asked regarding his triumphs, Klemm referred to the Innviertel: “I skied on the best ski – that was the Fischer ski, which was technologically far ahead of the others. More than half of the competitors also skied it. I think “, I changed something in the technique. I was the first to do a carving turn without carving skis,” said the Carinthian, who lives in Vienna, explaining his “secret recipe”. Postscript: “Thank God it took the others so long to imitate it.”

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The start of the Gala Night of Sports 2024

Sport and music in the Brucknerhaus: Franz Klemm, Andreas Goldberger & Co. enjoy the home advantage. The first voters for the big ball night in Linz.

Bracket’s Alex Reed appearance in Linz was intended to pay off for those who are struggling: Oberbank general director and gala main sponsor Franz Gasselsberger and LIVA organizer Wolfgang Scheibner presented the ski star with a check for 6,000 euros, the sum of which goes to ” “Franz Bracket Foundation”. The aim is to make it easier for athletes who have had accidents and are underinsured to return to a normal life.

Handover of the check in favor of the “Franz Bracket Foundation”: V. left. Wolfgang Scheibner (LIVA), Franz Klemm, OÖN sports director Christoph Zöpfl, Oberbank general director Franz Gasselsberger with his wife Gerti
Image: Volker Weihbold

Anecdotes from Klemm

Bracket’s connection to Upper Austria is not just limited to the ski brand. He also has an anecdote to share from the mountain race in St. Agatha. “I simply wrapped a car around an apple tree, and Dr. Marko (now a Red Bull motorsport consultant, ed.) didn’t like that at all. I just drove at full throttle, the car was in a great position on the road “But the apples weren’t ripe yet,” said the four-time Kitzbühel winner, who also spoke regarding his grandchildren’s sporting activities. “

Hans Pum (middle) and Andreas Goldberger (right) congratulated Franz Klemm on the “Sports Life Award Austria”.
Image: Volker Weihbold

Felix (5) is of course already on skis.” The youngest (3 1/2) is already in the best downhill style. “He can’t make any turns and ends up somersaulting at the bottom.” Huge laughter.

Hans Pum, long-time trainer and alpine director in the ÖSV and current vice president in the state ski association, as well as ski jumping favorite Andreas Goldberger paid tribute to the people of Klemm in the highest tones and also with a touch of insults. “If someone celebrates so many successes and still stays on the ground, then he deserves the title of emperor,” said Pum, who first met the ski star during a course in 1977.

Goldberger talked regarding shared experiences on the ski slopes: “Franz Bracket was my childhood idol. When we were in Schladming, he easily skied down the finish slope. I slipped down.”