Tina Maze, Slovenian skier

Tina Maze, born on May 2, 1983, and pronounced [ˈtiːna ˈmaːzɛ] in Slovene, is a truly iconic figure in the world of alpine skiing. This retired Slovenian World Cup alpine ski racer etched her name into history books through a career marked by remarkable versatility, sheer dominance, and an impressive collection of medals and accolades. Hailing from Slovenia, a nation where winter sports, particularly skiing, are deeply ingrained in the culture and national identity, Maze's achievements resonate profoundly.

A Career of Unprecedented Success

Widely regarded as the most successful Slovenian ski racer in history, Tina Maze's career reached its zenith with an astonishing double-gold performance at the 2014 Winter Olympics. Her impact extends beyond the slopes, as evidenced by her consistent recognition as the Slovenian Sportswoman of the Year, an honor she received in 2005, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2015. With four medals, she stands as the most decorated Slovenian athlete ever at the Winter Olympics, a testament to her enduring excellence and ability to perform on the grandest stages.

Mastering All Disciplines

Maze's journey in professional skiing began with a focus on giant slalom, a technical discipline demanding precision and power. However, her ambition and talent quickly propelled her to compete across all five alpine skiing disciplines: Downhill (the fastest event, emphasizing courage and aerodynamics), Super-G (a speed event with more turns than downhill), Giant Slalom (requiring rhythmic turns and precise edge control), Slalom (the most technical and shortest race with rapid, tight turns), and Combined (a single event typically comprising one downhill/Super-G run and one slalom run). This expansion of her repertoire showcased her extraordinary adaptability and skill, allowing her to challenge the best in every facet of the sport. Such versatility is exceedingly rare, placing her among an elite group of only seven female racers who have managed to win in all five World Cup disciplines. Even more remarkably, she is one of just three women to achieve this feat within a single, dominant season.

Olympic and World Championship Laurels

Her prowess translated into a dazzling array of major championship titles. At the 2014 Winter Olympics, she secured two coveted gold medals in both the Downhill and Giant Slalom events, solidifying her status as an Olympic legend. Her success continued at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, where she claimed the World Champion title in Downhill and Combined in 2015. Earlier, she had already demonstrated her championship pedigree by becoming the world champion in Giant Slalom in 2011 and adding another gold in Super-G in 2013, showcasing her consistent ability to peak at the most important competitions.

Dominance on the World Cup Circuit

Over the course of her illustrious career, Tina Maze accumulated a remarkable total of 26 World Cup race victories. Her ultimate triumph came in 2013 when she clinched the coveted World Cup overall title, signifying her as the most consistent and successful racer across all disciplines for that entire season. The 2013 season was nothing short of legendary for Maze. She won an incredible 11 races and set a new, unprecedented record for the highest number of World Cup points in a single season, accumulating an astounding 2414 points. This monumental achievement surpassed the long-standing record of 2000 points set by the male alpine skiing legend Hermann Maier in the 2000 season, highlighting the sheer scale of her dominance. In that same historic season, she also secured the World Cup titles in Super-G and Giant Slalom. Furthermore, she finished first in the combined event (though no globe was awarded for the discipline at that time) and narrowly missed out on additional globes by finishing second in both slalom and downhill. Maze further cemented her record-breaking season by improving upon Maier's previous record of 22 podium finishes in a single season, achieving an astonishing 24 podiums, demonstrating her unparalleled consistency and top-tier performance week after week.

FAQs About Tina Maze

What is Tina Maze best known for?
Tina Maze is best known for being the most successful Slovenian alpine ski racer in history, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and for her record-breaking 2013 World Cup season where she won the overall title and set new points and podium records.
How many Olympic medals did Tina Maze win?
Tina Maze won a total of four Olympic medals: two gold medals at the 2014 Winter Olympics (Downhill and Giant Slalom) and two silver medals from previous Games.
Which World Cup season was her most successful?
Her most successful World Cup season was 2013, during which she won the overall title, 11 races, set a record for 2414 World Cup points, and achieved 24 podium finishes.
What alpine skiing disciplines did Tina Maze compete in?
Tina Maze competed in all five alpine skiing disciplines: Downhill, Super-G, Giant Slalom, Slalom, and Combined. She is one of very few women to have won a World Cup race in each of these disciplines.
When did Tina Maze retire from professional skiing?
Tina Maze officially announced her retirement from professional alpine ski racing in January 2017, with her final race being a World Cup giant slalom in Maribor, Slovenia.