Racing career

Russi made his World Cup debut at age 19 in January 1968 at a giant slalom in Adelboden. After two races in 1968 and six in 1969, he joined the World Cup circuit full-time in December 1969. A month later, he recorded his first World Cup top ten finish in January 1970 at the Lauberhorn downhill in Wengen. The next month he won his first event, the downhill at the 1970 World Championships, ahead of Karl Cordin of Austria and Australian Malcolm Milne. Two years later at the 1972 Olympics in Sapporo, Japan, he won the gold medal in the same discipline on Mt. Eniwa. Countryman Roland Collombin secured the silver and a Swiss "double victory." Russi won the World Cup season title in downhill in 1971 and 1972.

Four years later at the 1976 Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, Russi nearly retained his Olympic title with a very fast time in the downhill at Patscherkofel, but took the silver medal. He finished 0.33 seconds behind Franz Klammer of Austria, who started 15th, the last of the top seeds. To date (2014) no men's Olympic champion in the downhill has successfully defended his title.

Russi retired from international competition following the 1978 season with 10 World Cup victories, 28 podiums, and 52 top ten finishes. In addition to his two downhill titles in 1971 and 1972, Russi was second in 1973 and third in 1976 and 1977. His best finish in the overall standings was fifth, achieved three times in 1971, 1972, and 1977

From 1948 through 1980, the Winter Olympics also served as the world championships for alpine skiing. During the early seasons of the World Cup, the Olympics (1968) and world championships (1970) were included in the World Cup season standings; these major competitions were excluded beginning with the 1971 season.

After racing

Russi currently serves as the chairman of the FIS Alpine Committee and is a FIS technical advisor for downhill course design. Beginning with the 1988 Winter Olympics, Russi has been noted as the designer of the downhill courses for the Olympics. This stemmed from dissatisfaction with the courses at the 1980 and 1984 games; since Russi took over, there have been few complaints. He also serves as a commentator for alpine ski racing on Swiss television.

World Cup results

Season titles

Season	Discipline
1971	Downhill
1972	Downhill

Season standings

Season	Age	Overall	Slalom	Giant Slalom	Super G	Downhill	Combined
1970	21	19	—	—		5
1971	22	5	—	8		1
1972	23	5	—	23		1
1973	24	6	—	—		2
1974	25	17	—	—		4
1975	26	11	—	—		4
1976	27	8	—	—		3	—
1977	28	5	—	—		3
1978	29	28	—	—		12

Race podiums

• 10 wins - (9 DH, 1 GS)
• 28 podiums - (27 DH, 1 GS)

Season	Date	Location	Discipline	Place
1970	15 Feb 1970	Val Gardena, Italy - ^	Downhill	1st
1971	16 Jan 1971	St. Moritz, Switzerland	Downhill	2nd
	31 Jan 1971	Megève, France	Downhill	1st
	13 Feb 1971	Mt. Ste. Anne, Canada	Giant Slalom	1st
	18 Feb 1971	Sugarloaf, USA	Downhill	1st
1972	5 Dec 1972	St. Moritz, Switzerland	Downhill	1st
	14 Jan 1972	Kitzbühel, Austria	Downhill	3rd
	25 Feb 1972	Crystal Mtn, USA	Downhill	1st
	26 Feb 1972		Downhill	2nd
	25 Mar 1972	Val Gardena, Italy	Downhill	1st
1973	7 Jan 1973	Garmisch, West Germany	Downhill	3rd
	13 Jan 1973	Grindelwald, Switzerland	Downhill	1st
	27 Jan 1973	Kitzbühel, Austria	Downhill	2nd
	3 Feb 1973	St. Anton, Austria	Downhill	1st
1974	22 Dec 1973	Schladming, Austria	Downhill	3rd
1975	26 Jan 1975	Innsbruck, Austria	Downhill	2nd
	21 Mar 1975	Val Gardena, Italy	Downhill	3rd
1976	7 Dec 1975	Val-d'Isère, France	Downhill	3rd
	9 Jan 1976	Wengen, Switzerland	Downhill	3rd
	17 Jan 1976	Morzine, France	Downhill	2nd
1977	18 Dec 1976	Val Gardena, Italy	Downhill	3rd
	15 Jan 1977	Kitzbühel, Austria	Downhill	3rd
	22 Jan 1977	Wengen, Switzerland	Downhill	3rd
	30 Jan 1977	Morzine, France	Downhill	1st
	31 Jan 1977		Downhill	3rd
	18 Feb 1977	Laax, Switzerland	Downhill	3rd
	12 Mar 1977	Heavenly Valley, USA	Downhill	3rd
1978	22 Dec 1977	Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy	Downhill	2nd

^

World championship results

Year	Age	Slalom	Giant Slalom	Super-G	Downhill	Combined
1970	21	—	—		1	—
1972	23	—	—		1	—
1974	25	—	—		13	—
1976	27	—	—		2	—
1978	29	—	—		14	—

Olympic results

Year	Age	Slalom	Giant Slalom	Super-G	Downhill	Combined
1972	23	—	—		1
1976	27	—	—		2

Video

• Video - 1972 Winter Olympics - men's downhill - gold & bronze medalists - from Japanese television - 1972-02-05 on YouTube

[ Source: Wikipedia ]