Carlo Janka
Switzerland Alpine National Team
Carlo Janka grew up in Obersaxen, in the canton of Graubunden, and skied from a very young age. He began competing internationally in 2001. Success came slowly at first, but with experience on the Europa Cup circuit in 2004 and his first World Cup races in 2005, his real talent began to emerge. His first World Cup points came in 2006, and by 2008, he was a surprising second place finisher in a downhill event at Lake Louise, following up soon after with his first World Cup victory in a giant slalom at Val d’Isère.
At Beaver Creek, Colorado, in December 2009, he became the first skier since the great Frenchman, Jean-Claude Killy (in 1967), to win three World Cup races in a single weekend, and established himself firmly in the top ranks of world skiers.
Now, at the age of 24, Carlo is one of the brightest stars in the Swiss Ski Team. In the past two years, he has won gold medals at both Winter Olympics (Vancouver, Canada 2010) and World Championships (Val d’Isère, France 2009), and in March 2010, he became only the fourth Swiss skier to win the World Cup overall title.
As his successes continue, it seems clear that Carlo has a long and and illustrious career still ahead of him.
Interview in June, 2010