Tina Maze
Who was Tina Maze?
Slovenian alpine skier who won two Olympic gold medals and became one of the most successful female ski racers in history. She claimed 26 World Cup victories and two overall World Cup titles before retiring in 2017.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Tina Maze (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Tina Maze, born on May 2, 1983, in Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia, is a retired alpine ski racer and the most successful Slovenian skier ever. During her career, which spanned nearly 20 years, she won two Olympic gold medals, multiple World Championship titles, and achieved 26 World Cup victories before retiring in 2017. Her accomplishments set new standards for Slovenian winter sports and placed her among the top female ski racers of all time.
Maze started her World Cup career focusing on giant slalom but later competed in all five alpine events: downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom, and combined. This broad skill set made her one of only seven women to win World Cup races in all five disciplines, and one of just three to do so in a single season. She won the World Cup overall title in 2013, setting a record with 2,414 World Cup points, breaking Hermann Maier's 2000 record of 2,000 points. That season, she won 11 races and had 24 podium finishes, surpassing Maier's single-season podium record of 22.
At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Maze won gold medals in both downhill and giant slalom, making her the most decorated Slovenian athlete in Winter Olympics with four total medals. She also claimed the World Championship title in giant slalom in 2011, in super-G in 2013, and in both downhill and combined in 2015, proving her dominance in the sport across multiple events and years.
Beyond her competition results, Maze received wide recognition in Slovenia. She was named Slovenian Sportswoman of the Year in 2005, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2015. She received various national honors, including the Bloudek Award, the Bloudek Badge, and the Decoration of Merit. Internationally, she won the Skieur d'Or in 2013, a top award in alpine skiing. After retiring in 2017, she left a record unmatched by any Slovenian skier, male or female.
Before Fame
Tina Maze was born on May 2, 1983, in Slovenj Gradec, a small city in northern Slovenia. She grew up in a country known for alpine skiing, influenced by its Alpine landscape and a culture that supports competitive skiers. From a young age, she trained in giant slalom, laying the groundwork for her early World Cup career.
Maze made her World Cup debut in the late 1990s and gradually progressed through the junior ranks, establishing herself on the senior circuit in the early 2000s. Winning the Slovenian Sportswoman of the Year award in 2005 marked her as a true national star. In the years that followed, she expanded her skills beyond giant slalom, eventually becoming one of the most versatile racers of her time.
Key Achievements
- Two Olympic gold medals at the 2014 Winter Olympics in downhill and giant slalom
- Four World Championship titles: giant slalom (2011), super-G (2013), downhill (2015), and combined (2015)
- World Cup overall champion in 2013, setting an all-time record of 2,414 points in a single season
- 26 World Cup victories across all five alpine disciplines
- Most decorated Slovenian athlete in Winter Olympic history
Did You Know?
- 01.In the 2012–13 season, Maze accumulated 2,414 World Cup points, a record that surpassed Hermann Maier's long-standing mark of 2,000 points set in 2000 — making her the highest single-season point scorer in World Cup alpine skiing history regardless of gender.
- 02.Maze is one of only three female skiers ever to win World Cup races in all five alpine disciplines within a single season.
- 03.At the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Maze won gold in both downhill and giant slalom, two events with very different technical demands, underlining the exceptional breadth of her skiing ability.
- 04.She was awarded the Skieur d'Or in 2013, an honor given annually to the world's top alpine skier, placing her in the company of the sport's all-time greats.
- 05.Maze was named Slovenian Sportswoman of the Year six times — in 2005, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2015 — a record of domestic recognition unmatched by any other Slovenian winter athlete.
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Skieur d'or | 2013 | — |
| Bloudek award | — | — |
| Bloudek badge | — | — |
| Decoration of Merit | — | — |
| Slovenian Sportsperson of the Year | — | — |