Benjamin Raich
A master of technical precision on the ski slopes, his quiet consistency made him one of Austria's most decorated and complete alpine racers.
Born 1978 (age 48)·Austrian alpine skier·Birthday: February 28·Generation X
Biography
In the shadow of Austria's more flamboyant ski stars, Benjamin Raich carved out a legacy defined by relentless excellence across multiple disciplines. Hailing from the Arlberg region, he emerged not as a downhill bomber but as a technician, a skier whose flawless form and tactical intelligence made him a constant threat in slalom, giant slalom, and combined events. His career was a marathon of high finishes, peaking in 2006 when he seized two Olympic gold medals in Turin and finally clinched the coveted overall World Cup crystal globe, a reward for his season-long versatility. Raich's game was built on a foundation of remarkable consistency; he amassed over 14,000 World Cup points, a staggering total that speaks to his ability to land on the podium week after week, year after year. While he never dominated a single season with the explosive force of some rivals, his body of work—36 World Cup wins, 14 World Championship and Olympic medals—cements him as a pillar of Austrian skiing, the steady hand who delivered when it mattered most.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Benjamin was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Benjamin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Benjamin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the overall Alpine Skiing World Cup title in the 2005-2006 season.
- Captured two gold medals (slalom, combined) at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.
- Accumulated 36 individual World Cup race victories across slalom, giant slalom, and combined events.
- Secured five World Cup discipline titles: three in slalom and two in combined.
Did You Know?
He is married to former Austrian alpine skier Marlies Schild, who is also a multiple World Cup champion and Olympic medalist.
His nickname on the circuit was 'The Silent Assassin' due to his quiet demeanor and lethal technical skiing.
He won his first World Cup race in 1999 in the slalom event at Park City, Utah.
Raich amassed over 14,000 career World Cup points, one of the highest totals in history.
“Ski racing is a fight against the clock and yourself.”
