Benjamin Raich

Austrian alpine skier Benjamin Raich was one of the most successful Austrian alpine skiers mainly as a slalom and giant slalom specialist. He became a four-time Winter Olympian from Salt Lake City 2002 to Sochi 2014. Raich won two gold medals in 2006 in the slalom and the giant slalom events, and two bronze medals in the slalom and the alpine combined in 2002.

At World Championships, Raich added three gold medals; in 2005 in the slalom and the alpine combined, and 2007 with the team. He also won six silver medals (2001 slalom, 2005 giant slalom, team, 2007 alpine super combined, 2009 giant slalom, 2011 team), and one bronze medal (2005 super-G).

At the World Cup, Raich won 36 races and the following titles: overall (2006), slalom overall (2001, 2005 and 2007), giant slalom (2005-06), and alpine combined (2005-06 and 2010). Raich also finished overall second five times. In 2006, Raich was voted Austrian Sportsman of the Year. He retired from competitive skiing in 2015.

Benjamin was the brother of Carina Raich and the brother-in-law of her husband Mario Stecher. He married his teammate Marlies Schild and became brother-in-law of her sister Bernadette Schild. Raich and his wife raised two sons and a daughter. He was also the cousin of snowboarder Heidi Neururer.

In 2015 Raich was hired by the Austrian TV channel ORF as an analyst for the technical skiing events, and since December 2020 was a member of the supervisory board of the Silvretta Montafon ski resort. Raich was awarded the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria in 2001 and 2006, and the Skieur d’Or in 2006. He became the third most successful Austrian skiers behind Marcel Hirscher and Hermann Maier (as of 2026).