Jean Saubert

Jean Marlene Saubert (May 1, 1942 – May 14, 2007) was an alpine ski racer from the United States. She was known for her speed and skill on the snowy slopes.

Saubert took part in the 1964 Winter Olympics held in Innsbruck, Austria, where she won two medals, showing great talent and determination.

After finishing her skiing career and graduating from college, Saubert became a teacher, sharing her knowledge and experiences with others.

Early life

Jean Marlene Saubert was born on May 1, 1942, in Roseburg, Oregon. She grew up in Cascadia and finished her schooling at Lakeview High School in 1960. She began skiing at Hoodoo Butte and competed at Mount Hood and Mount Bachelor.

Racing career

Jean Saubert started her skiing career in 1962 when she joined the U.S. Ski Team. Her first big competition was the 1962 World Championships in Chamonix, France, where she placed sixth in the giant slalom. She became the U.S. champion in downhill and giant slalom in both 1963 and 1964, and also won the slalom and combined national titles in 1964. In total, she won eight U.S. championships during her racing career.

At the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Saubert won a bronze medal in the slalom and a silver medal in the giant slalom. She was the only U.S. athlete to win more than one medal at those Olympics, and her medals were two of the six that the entire United States team earned. She retired from international competition at age 24 after finishing fourth in the slalom at the 1966 World Championships in Portillo, Chile.

Post-competition life

After her skiing career, Jean Saubert returned to Oregon and finished her studies at Oregon State University in Corvallis in 1966. She later joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and earned a master's degree at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. In Utah, she taught physical education and worked as a ski instructor for several years. She then moved back to Oregon, where she taught elementary school in Hillsboro.

Jean Saubert was honored by being inducted into the National Ski Hall of Fame in 1976 and the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1983. She was also chosen to carry the torch for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. She faced health challenges later in life and passed away at the age of 65 in Bigfork, Montana on May 14, 2007.