Vermont Skier Andrea Mead Lawrence Wins Two Golds at 1952 Olympics

Mead Lawrence becomes the only American alpine skier to win two gold medals in a single Olympic Games.

Published on Feb. 1, 2026

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At just 19 years old, Vermont native Andrea Mead Lawrence captivated the nation when she won two gold medals in alpine skiing at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, Norway. Mead Lawrence's dominant performances in the giant slalom and slalom events made her the first and only American alpine skier to achieve this feat in a single Olympic Games.

Why it matters

Mead Lawrence's Olympic success put Vermont and American skiing on the global map, inspiring a new generation of skiers and cementing her legacy as one of the greatest Olympians of all time. Her relaxed, fearless approach to competition and her refusal to conform to gender norms of the era also made her a trailblazing figure in women's sports.

The details

In the giant slalom, Mead Lawrence skied a nearly flawless run, crossing the finish line 2.2 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor - the largest margin of victory in the event's history. Three days later, she overcame a fall on her first slalom run to post the fastest time on her second run, edging out Germany's Ossi Reichert by 0.8 seconds to claim her second gold medal.

  • On February 14, 1952, Mead Lawrence won the gold medal in the women's giant slalom.
  • On February 17, 1952, Mead Lawrence won the gold medal in the women's slalom.

The players

Andrea Mead Lawrence

A 19-year-old skier from Vermont who became the first and only American alpine skier to win two gold medals in a single Olympic Games.

David Lawrence

Andrea Mead Lawrence's husband, who was also a member of the U.S. Men's Olympic Ski Team.

Ossi Reichert

A German skier who won the silver medal in the women's slalom event behind Andrea Mead Lawrence.

Bradford and Janet Mead

Andrea Mead Lawrence's parents, who owned Pico Mountain Ski Area in Vermont where she learned to ski from a young age.

Karl Acker

A Swiss slalom racer who ran the ski school at Pico Mountain and helped teach Andrea Mead Lawrence to ski.

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What they’re saying

“Gee, it was great. The course was fine and I went faster than I thought.”

— Andrea Mead Lawrence

“I knew I had to do it, so I just cut loose.”

— Andrea Mead Lawrence

“I was scared stiff with Andy in front of me.”

— Ossi Reichert, German skier

What’s next

The International Olympic Committee is expected to honor Andrea Mead Lawrence's historic achievements at a special ceremony during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy.

The takeaway

Andrea Mead Lawrence's dominant performance at the 1952 Oslo Olympics cemented her legacy as one of the greatest American Olympians of all time and inspired a new generation of skiers from Vermont and across the United States to pursue their dreams on the world stage.