Erik Schinegger

Erik Schinegger 2014

Erik Schinegger (born 19 June 1948) is an Austrian intersexual and transgender skier. He was the world champion women's downhill skier in 1966, at which time he was recognized as female and known as Erika Schinegger.[1]

Early life

Schinegger was born in Agsdorf, Carinthia, and raised as a girl.

Skier and transitioning

In 1967, as he was preparing for the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, a medical test by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) determined that Schinegger was male, with internal male sex organs, and disqualified him. Schinegger ultimately decided to live as a man and transitioned, undergoing medical treatment and changing his name to Erik. He married and became a father.[2][3]

Together with Marco Schenz, Schinegger published an autobiography in 1988 titled Mein Sieg über mich. Der Mann, der Weltmeisterin wurde ("My Victory over Myself: The Man Who Became a Female World Champion"). He was also the subject of a 2005 documentary film by Kurt Mayer called Erik(A), with music by Olga Neuwirth.[4] In 1988, on a television show broadcast by the Austrian ORF network, Schinegger gave his 1966 gold medal to the second-place finisher, Marielle Goitschel.[5]

Personal life

Erik Schinegger currently lives in the place of his birth and runs a ski school for children.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Champion Girl Skier In Sex Change .". The Age. 17 June 1968. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Rick Broadbent, "From Erika to Erik, a long journey of self-discovery", The Times, October 22, 2009.
  3. ↑ John Fry, The Story of Modern Skiing (University Press of New England, 2006), pp.131-133 (excerpt available at Google Books).
  4. ↑ Jay Weissberg, Review of Erik(a), Variety, May 16, 2006.
  5. ↑ "Man Who Won '66 Women's Downhill Gives Up Medal", AP in Los Angeles Times, November 19, 1988.