Werner Grissmann

Austrian alpine skier Werner Grissmann specialised in the so-called speed disciplines and participated in the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics. He finished seventh in the downhill event. In 1978 he won the bronze medal at the World Championships in the same event. Grissmann became well-known for several escapades during his active career.

Later Grissmann became a professional motor rally driver. He placed fifth at the San Remo Rally as his best result. In 1990 he was inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records (now just called Guinness World Records) for a speed record in a production vehicle, driving a Porsche 928S at an average speed of 267,5 km/h over a distance of 6,175 km in 24 hours.

Grissmann also ran his own radio channel in Austria called “Radio Grizzly” and occasionally worked with the TV Channel ORF. In 1987 he founded the Red Bull Dolomitenmann, an extreme sports relay race. His son-in-law Benjamin Karl became a four-time snowboard Olympian.