From Swiss Farm Girl to Olympic Ski Champion at 95: Chamot-Berthod's Untold Story
Madeleine Chamot-Berthod, now 95, remains Switzerland's oldest living Olympic champion. Her gold medal in women's downhill skiing at the 1952 Oslo Winter Games came after a childhood spent working on her family's farm above Lake Geneva. Even today, she keeps that medal in a simple cardboard box, tucked away among other memories of her racing days.
Chamot-Berthod's journey to Olympic glory began far from the slopes. Raised on a farm, she helped her father tend the land while dreaming of speed. As a teenager, she bought a motorcycle with money earned from selling sheep—her first taste of thrill. That love of velocity later translated to skiing, where she excelled on treacherous courses.
The 1952 downhill race in Oslo was no easy feat. The track was a rough mogul field, lined with solid wood gates and towering trees. Yet she dominated, finishing over four seconds ahead of her nearest rival, fellow Swiss skier Frida Dänzer, who took silver. Standing on the podium, the sound of the Swiss national anthem brought her to tears.
Her triumph sparked celebrations back home. The small town welcomed her with parades and pride, a hero returned. Decades later, she still watches races with a racer's sharp eye, noting where skiers could shave off precious seconds or improve their lines.
Chamot-Berthod's gold medal sits quietly in her closet, a reminder of a moment that changed her life. Her victory in 1952 set a standard for Swiss skiing and left a legacy that endures. Even now, her insights into the sport reflect the precision and passion that once made her a champion.
