Joseph Benz
Encyclopedia
Joseph "Josef or Sepp" Benz (born 20 May 1944 in Zurich
) is a Swiss
bobsledder who competed from the mid 1970s to the early 1980s. Competing in two Winter Olympics, he won four medals with one gold (Two-man: 1980
), two silvers (Four-man: 1976
, 1980), and one bronze (Two-man: 1976).
Benz also won eight medals at the FIBT World Championships
with three golds (Two-man: 1978
, 1979
; Four-man: 1981
), two silvers (Four-man: 1977
, 1978), and three bronzes (Two-man: 1981
, Four-man: 1979, 1981).
In 2008, he was named chairman of the Sport Commission for artificial track luge
for the International Luge Federation (FIL). Benz also competed in athletics and was a postal clerk in his native Switzerland
. He served as chairman of the FIL Youth Commission before serving his current FIL position.
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
) is a Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
bobsledder who competed from the mid 1970s to the early 1980s. Competing in two Winter Olympics, he won four medals with one gold (Two-man: 1980
1980 Winter Olympics
The 1980 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIII Olympic Winter Games, was a multi-sport event which was celebrated from 13 February through 24 February 1980 in Lake Placid, New York, United States of America. This was the second time the Upstate New York village hosted the Games, after 1932...
), two silvers (Four-man: 1976
1976 Winter Olympics
The 1976 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated February 4–15, 1976 in Innsbruck, Austria...
, 1980), and one bronze (Two-man: 1976).
Benz also won eight medals at the FIBT World Championships
FIBT World Championships
The FIBT World Championships, part of the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing , have taken place on an annual basis in non-Winter Olympic years since 1930. A two-man event was included in 1931 with a combined championship occurring in 1947...
with three golds (Two-man: 1978
FIBT World Championships 1978
The FIBT World Championships 1978 took place in Lake Placid, New York, United States for the fifth time, hosting the event previously in 1949, 1961, 1969, and 1973.-Two man bobsleigh:-Four man bobsleigh:-Medal table:-References:**...
, 1979
FIBT World Championships 1979
The FIBT World Championships 1979 took place in Königssee, West Germany. It was the first championships that took place on an artificially refrigerated track...
; Four-man: 1981
FIBT World Championships 1981
The FIBT World Championships 1981 took place in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy for the seventh time, having hosted the event previously in 1937 , 1939 , 1950, 1954, 1960, and 1966...
), two silvers (Four-man: 1977
FIBT World Championships 1977
The FIBT World Championships 1977 took place in St. Moritz, Switzerland for the record thirteenth time. The Swiss city had hosted the event previously in 1931 , 1935 , 1937 , 1938 , 1939 , 1947, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1965, 1970, and 1974.-Two man bobsleigh:-Four man bobsleigh:The East Germans earned...
, 1978), and three bronzes (Two-man: 1981
FIBT World Championships 1981
The FIBT World Championships 1981 took place in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy for the seventh time, having hosted the event previously in 1937 , 1939 , 1950, 1954, 1960, and 1966...
, Four-man: 1979, 1981).
In 2008, he was named chairman of the Sport Commission for artificial track luge
Luge
A Luge is a small one- or two-person sled on which one sleds supine and feet-first. Steering is done by flexing the sled's runners with the calf of each leg or exerting opposite shoulder pressure to the seat. Racing sleds weigh 21-25 kilograms for singles and 25-30 kilograms for doubles. Luge...
for the International Luge Federation (FIL). Benz also competed in athletics and was a postal clerk in his native Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. He served as chairman of the FIL Youth Commission before serving his current FIL position.