Eugene Robert "Gene" Kotlarek (March 31, 1940 – November 9, 2017) was an American former ski jumper. He competed at the 1960 and 1964 Winter Olympics with the best result of 14th place in the normal hill in 1964.[1]

Gene Kotlarek
Kotlarek in 1963
Personal information
Born(1940-03-31)March 31, 1940
Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.
DiedNovember 9, 2017(2017-11-09) (aged 77)
Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.
Height175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight71 kg (157 lb)
Sport
SportSki Jumping
ClubDuluth XC Ski Club
Coached byGeorge Kotlarek

Kotlarek was trained by his father George, a member of the American Ski Jumping Hall of Fame. He won the 1958 National Boys title, the 1959 National Junior A championship, and the U.S. Senior titles in 1963 and 1966–67. In 1964 he set a national record at 138 m (454 feet), which stood for nine years. Kotlarek graduated from the University of Minnesota and later worked as an accountant. In 1982 he was elected to the National Ski Hall of Fame.[1]

Kotlarek died on November 9, 2017, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Gene Kotlarek". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  2. ^ "Duluth's Gene Kotlarek, ski jumping legend, dies at 77". duluthnewstribune.com. Retrieved November 26, 2017.