Andrea Mead Lawrence:
Nacida en 1932 en Rutland (Vermont) Andrea aprendió a esquiar casi antes que a caminar. No en vano sus padres eran los propietarios de una estación de esquí. Empezó a competir a la temprana edad de diez años (1942) y logró su primer gran triunfo a los 15, al ganar el Olympic Tryout Slalom (pruebas de clasificación para participar en el Slalom Olímpico de 1948). Posteriormente fue la deportista mas joven (18 años) en ganar la Harrigan Cup en las modalidades de Descenso, Slalom y Combinada.
Born in 1932 in Rutland (Vermont), Andrea learnt to ski even before she was quite able to walk, as her parents owned a ski resort. She began to compete when she was 10 years old (1942) and won her first major race when she was 15, when she won the Olympic Tryout Slalom (qualifying to take part in the 1948 Olympic Slalom). Later she was the youngest skier (18 years old) to win the Harrigan Cup in downhill, slalom and combined.
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In 1950, she was awarded the American Ski Trophy for making the greatest contribution to the sport of skiing and Time Magazine acknowledged her contribution to her sport by putting her on the cover of their January 21st issue.She has also been on the cover of Skiing Heritage issue
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Andrea fue miembro del Equipo Olímpico de esquí de los EEUU en 1948, 1952 (Capitán del equipo Femenino) y 1956, siendo el único deportista americano y una de las cuatro mujeres en todo el mundo que compitió en tres olimpiadas de invierno.
Andrea was a member of the US Olympic ski team in 1948, 1952 (captain of the ladies team) and 1956. She was the only American athlete and one of the world four women to compete in three winter Olympic Games
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In 1948 she didn’t get any medal, but in 1951, when she was preparing in Europe the 1952 Olympic Games, she won 10 out of 16 international races, and she ended second in four more. During this tour she married Olympic skier David Lawrence in Switzerland. Later she won the Olympic gold medal in slalom and giant slalom.
En 1956 y tan solo cuatro meses después de haber alumbrado a su tercer hijo, consiguió ser 4ª en el Slalom Olímpico.
In 1956, only four months after giving birth to her third son, she finished 4th in Olympic slalom.
En su haber también podemos destacar que ha sido campeona de Estados Unidos en las modalidades de Descenso, Slalom y Combinada en 1949. 1952 y 1955, así como de Slalom Gigante en 1953.
She was also US champion in descent, slalom and alpine combined in 1949, 1952 and 1955, and in giant slalom in 1953.
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She is the only American skier (men included) to win two gold medals in a single Olympic Games. Until 1972, she was also the only woman in the world to hold such a record.
Hoy en día, Andrea dirige el Andrea Lawrence Institute for Mountains and Rivers una organización no gubernamental en defensa de las montañas de Eastern Sierra Nevada, y ha sido nombrada “Ranger” de honor por la California's State Parks en reconocimiento a toda una vida dedicada a la montaña, el deporte y la naturaleza.
Nowadays, Andrea manages Andrea Lawrence Institute for Mountains and Rivers a NGO to defend the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains. She has been appointed Honorary Ranger by the California’s State Parks to acknowledge a lifetime dedicated to the mountains, sports and Nature.
Andrea, se fue en busca de nuevas pistas blancas el dia 30 de Marzo de 2009, victima de un cáncer que sufría desde el año 2000. (D.E.P.)
Andrea, who had suffered from cancer since 2000, died 30-March-2009 at her Mammoth Lakes home.
Fuetes - Sources:
www.britannica.com
www.alimar.org
www.eok.ee
www.vtliving.com
www.cspra.com
www.vermontskimuseum.org
