VIENNA — Austrian skier Peter Wirnsberger was killed Sunday in a skiing accident shortly after winning a downhill race at Altenmark-Zauchensee, near Salzburg.
He died instantly when he skied into a wooden fence during an outing with his girlfriend between his victory and a delayed awards ceremony.
Wirnsberger, 24, was not related to his more famous Styrian namesake, Peter Wirnsberger, who has retired.
The young racer was regarded as a rising hope on the Austrian ski team, with potential in both the downhill and super-G events, and had already won a Europa Cup downhill at Igls, Austria.
Wirnsberger's death marks another twist in the fortunes of the ill-starred Austrian men's ski team, which has lost several members through accidents in recent years.
