Vladimir Sabich

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Vladimir Peter Sabich, Jr. (October 1, 1945 in Sacramento, California - March 21, 1976 in Starwood, Colorado) was an American skiier. He was known by his nickname, Spider, given to him by his father.

The grandson of Croatian immigrants, Sabich went to the University of Colorado on a skiing scholarship. After finishing 5th in the slalom at the 1968 Winter Olympics, he turned professional. He helped popularize the sport in United States in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1976, he was fatally shot by his girlfriend Claudine Longet; she claimed the gun discharged accidentally as Sabich was showing her how it worked. Longet, former wife of entertainer Andy Williams, was convicted of criminally negligent homicide, and sentenced to 30 days in jail, which she served three months later, following a vacation with her married defense attorney.