Eberhard Riedel is dead. The GDR's most successful alpine ski racer fell asleep peacefully on Easter Sunday after a "short, serious illness at the age of 88". This was announced by his son Peter Riedel in an obituary on his website.
Riedel made history in 1961 when he surprisingly won the giant slalom in Adelboden, Switzerland. In 1960 in Squaw Valley, 1964 in Innsbruck and 1968 in Grenoble, Riedel took part in the Winter Olympics. In France, he came 13th in the slalom, his best Olympic placing.
"He was not a loud person, not someone who pushed himself to the fore," wrote Riedel's son. "He worked, trained and fought - quietly, consistently and with a deep respect for his sport and his fellow competitors."
