![]() TV presenter and former British racer Chemmy Allcott interviews Franz Klammer and Benni Raich (left) another Austrian Olympic gold medal winning skier Recently, I was lucky enough to be invited to an exclusive premier in London, attended by Franz and a host of other former Austrian and British ski racers including Graham Bell, Konrad Bartelski, and Chemmy Allcott (plus a special message was beamed in from Dave Ryding). The film ‘Chasing the Line’, directed by Andreas Schmied, was released in German last year, and it has now been dubbed into English. ![]() Now, 46 years after the famous victory, the story behind the build up to the race and Franz’s run have been given Austria’s version of the ‘Hollywood treatment’. In Austria, it is said that Franz’s triumph united his country, and it was one of those occasions when everyone remembers where they were at the moment he crossed the finish line. ![]() The packed auditorium rose to their feet and welcomed Franz with a standing ovation – and that was before he enthralled the audience with tales of his life and his views on skiing. My answer came when we walked out on stage after the footage of his amazing and dramatic gold medal winning 1:45.73 run at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck was shown on a giant screen. I already knew ‘the Kaiser’ and how he is seen as a hero in Austria, but wondered how well known he would be to a British crowd? By Skier & Snowboarder editor Frank ‘Scoop’ Baldwinīack in November 2009, I was invited to interview Austrian ski legend Franz Klammer in front of a large audience during a weekend organised by Inghams in Warwickshire to celebrate the company’s 75th anniversary.
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