Moritz Heidegger
Liechtenstein bobsledder (1932–1956)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Moritz Heidegger (4 December 1932 – 12 February 1956) was a Liechtensteiner bobsledder who competed in the 1956 Winter Olympics. He died in a bobsledding accident the following month.
Cäcilia Tschugmell
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Liechtenstein |
| Born | 4 December 1932 |
| Died | 12 February 1956 (aged 23) |
| Parent(s) | Marzell Heidegger Cäcilia Tschugmell |
| Relatives | Ferdinand Heidegger (uncle) Fridolin Tschugmell (uncle) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Bobsleigh |
Life
Heidegger was from Triesen and was the son of Liechtenstein government councillor Marzell Heidegger.[1] He took part in the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo. He competed in the two-man event with his pusher Weltin Wolfinger. However, the duo was in last place after the second of four runs and therefore did not start again.[2]
Two weeks later, the two athletes started on the Olympic Bob Run in St. Moritz. During the race, the bobsleigh skidded and the track collapsed, as a result of which it overturned several times. Despite wearing a helmet, Heidegger was severely hit in the back of the head by the bumpers. The President of the Liechtenstein Federation, baron Eduard Theodor von Falz-Fein, immediately drove Heidegger to the hospital in Samedan. However, Heidegger did not regain consciousness and died a few days later. As a result, bobsleighing was temporarily banned in Liechtenstein.[3]
His brother Jakob had died in a motorcycling accident the year prior.[1]
