22 Facts About Phil Mahre

Phillip Ferdinand Mahre was born on May 10,1957 and is a former World Cup alpine ski racer, widely regarded as one of the greatest American skiers of all time.

The Phil Mahre twins retired from World Cup racing in March 1984 at age 26.

On February 9,2010, Phil Mahre was the US torch bearer to carry the 2010 Vancouver torch across the border at the Blaine-Surrey Peace Arch.

Phil, Steve, and their seven siblings literally grew up at a ski area; in 1964, their father Dave "Spike" Mahre became the mountain manager for the White Pass ski area, 50 miles west of Yakima on US-12, where they moved into a home near the base of the lifts.

The Phil Mahre twins worked extensively with the company throughout their careers, developing custom race skis ideally suited to their needs.

Phil Mahre graduated from Naches High School and played football as a blocking back and linebacker for the Rangers.

Phil Mahre earned a spot on the US Ski Team in early 1973 at age 15.

Phil Mahre was selected to the "A" team following the 1975 season and made his World Cup debut in December 1975 at Val d'Isere, France.

Phil Mahre made his first podium in March with a second in a giant slalom at Copper Mountain, Colorado, and finished the 1976 World Cup season in 14th place in the overall standings.

Phil Mahre won his first World Cup race the next season, a giant slalom at Val d'Isere in December 1976, and followed it up with a slalom win in March at Sun Valley, defeating the man who became his primary rival, the legendary Swede Ingemar Stenmark, with twin brother Steve taking third.

Phil Mahre again finished third in the overall World Cup standings for 1980, and won the first of four consecutive discipline titles in the combined.

Phil Mahre's career reached its zenith over the next three seasons.

Phil Mahre won primarily due to his results in the downhill and combined events, as Stenmark was uncomfortable in the downhill event.

Phil Mahre had eight wins and 20 podium finishes, and his 309 points were well ahead of Stenmark's 211.

In 1983, Phil Mahre again beat Stenmark by a large margin for the overall title, along with taking a second straight GS title.

Phil Mahre skied a fine second run to grab the lead, then Nilsson skied next and faltered, dropping out of the medals.

Steve skied down last, needing only a solid run to take the gold, but a series of mistakes dropped him into second place, and Phil Mahre became the Olympic champion.

Phil Mahre did not find out about it until a TV interview after the race.

The Phil Mahre twins raced a limited World Cup schedule during the 1984 season, and retired from the circuit in early March at age 26.

Phil Mahre ended his career with 27 World Cup race victories, at the time second only to Stenmark's 79 wins among men's racers, while Steve finished with 9 wins.

In 1988 Phil Mahre jumped to the World Pro Ski Tour winning the slalom title in 1989.

In 2006, at the age of 49, Phil Mahre decided it was time to come out of retirement and make another run at qualifying for the US Nationals by the age of 50.