Gregor Schlierenzauer is a 5'10", 141 lb. Ski Jumping World Cup champion representing Austria in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, BC. Schlieri (his nickname) started training when he was 8 years old at the SV Innsbruck-Bergisel Club, but had trouble balancing the heavy training schedule and his school work, so he transferred Skigymnasium, which was a school and ski training facility in one.

He became friends with Mario Innauer who's father Toni Innauer was an Olympic champion at the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics and the head of the Austrian ski team. With the help of Innauer and his uncle, (now his agent) Markus Prock, Schlieri worked on perfecting his form and speed. Markus Prock is no stranger to Olympic competitions, having been a three time medalist in luge, winning a silver at both the 1992 Albertville Games and the 1994 Lillehammer Games and a bronze at the 2002 Salt Lake Games.http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-features/news/newsid=266369.html

Since becoming a major contender in 2006, Schlierenzauer has amassed an impressive number of medals and titles as of February 2010.

World Championships (5 medals - 4 gold, 1 silver)

• Team: 1st (2007, 2009)
• Individual Normal Hill: 2nd (2009)
• Individual Ski-flying: 1st (2008)
• Team Ski-flying: 1st (2008)

World Cup

• Overall title: 1st (2009), 2nd (2008)
• 24 victories (up to March 2009)
• 13 victories (2008-2009 - record for one season)

Four Hills Tournament

• 2nd (2006-2007), 3rd (2008-2009)http://espn.go.com/olympics/winter/2010/athletes/_/athlete/125812/gregor-schlierenzauer

In March, 2009, he sustained a serious knee injury at Ramsau that required surgery. From his performances at his subsequent competitions, it appears that the injury has not affected his jumping abilities.http://espn.go.com/olympics/winter/2010/athletes/_/athlete/125812/gregor-schlierenzauer

Schlierenzauer Trivia

• Deaf in left ear from birthhttp://espn.go.com/olympics/winter/2010/athletes/_/athlete/125812/gregor-schlierenzauer
• Current Residence is in Fulpmes (AUT)

Has the 2nd longest last name of anyone winning a medal in Olympic Ski Jumping history with 14 letters. The longest was Schwarzenberger, coincidently another Austrian, who won a bronze medal in the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-features/news/newsid=266369.html

Hobbies: Football, tennis, skiing, listening to music, running, cooking. poker billiards.http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/613.html?type=biog&competitorid=106378§or=JP

Feb. 22, 2010 Team Event Results: Gold: Austria Silver: Germany Bronze: Norway Final score: 1107.9

With Switzerland out of the picture, Austria went into the Team event as the favorite. In the final round, Gregor Schlierenzauer sped down the hill at 93.8km/h and had a 146.5m jump. The Austrians finished with 1107.9 points taking the gold, and giving Schlierenzauer his 3rd medal of the 2010 Olympics. He received a medal in all three events in which he participated.

Feb. 20, 2010 Long Hill Individual Results: Gold: Simon Amman Switzerland Silver: Adam Malysz Poland Bronze: Gregor Schlierenzauer Austria Winning Score: 283.6

In a repeat of the Feb. 13th standings, Simon Amman again took the gold medal with a final score of 283.6. He came into the second round with a score of 144.7, and had a 138m jump (the longest in that round). Adam Malysz came into the final behind Amman with a score of 138.1 and a final of 269.4. Gregor Schlierenzauer came into the second round in fourth place with a score of 125.4, but had a 136m jump which was enough to earn him the bronze.

Feb. 13, 2010 Normal Hill Individual Results: Gold: Simon Amman Switzerland Silver: Adam Malysz Poland Bronze: Gregor Schlierenzauer Austria Winning Score: 276.5

Competing in the event that awarded the first medals of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Schlierenzauer was not left out, taking the bronze in the Men's Normal Hill Ski Jump. Taking the gold was Swiss ski jumper, Simon Ammann with his first jump measuring 105m and topping it with a 108m jump in the second round for a total score of 276.5. Adam Malysz representing Poland took silver with a total score of 269.5. The Bronze went to Schlierenzauer who finished with a total score of 268.http://blog.taragana.com/sports/2010/02/13/switzerlands-ammann-takes-1st-gold-medal-of-olympics-by-winning-normal-hill-ski-jump-75096/

Going into the second round, Schlierenzauer had a disappointing total points score of 128.00. He was trailing Finland's Janne Ahonen who had a round one total of 129.5 points, Germany's Michael Uhrmann with 133.0 total points, Slovenia's Robert Kranjec with 129.0 points, and Austria's Thomas Morgenstern with 130.0 total points. But his second jump, which was the second longest only to Ammann's 108m jump, was 106.5m and he received a 57.0 judges point value giving him a total point score of 268.http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-ski-jumping/schedule-and-results/nh-individual-final-round_sjm070102Lh.html

These top three ski jumpers are rated some of the best in the world and the competition is fierce among them.