Portrait: Fabio Gstrein
“I absolutely love being out in the woods.” Fabio Gstrein has been a star ever since he won the silver medal at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The ski racer is one of the ÖSV’s top performers. He is also part of a great skiing dynasty from the Ötztal Valley: His parents run a ski school in Sölden and were racers themselves. His second cousin is Bernhard Gstrein, who won World Cup races and also took silver in the slalom at the 1988 Olympics.
Fabio takes comparisons and expectations in stride. An Olympic silver medal in slalom at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games? Check. Now he wants to stand at the very top of the podium in the World Cup as well. As a member of the ÖSV’s A-team, he trains with the country’s best slalom skiers. What he used to find “pretty cool”—pushing the established skiers in training—has now become a reality following his Olympic silver: Fabio is one of the established skiers himself.
But Fabio doesn’t have his head in the clouds. At most on the slopes sometimes. He is down to earth from top to toe. He regains energy and strength at home - on his brother Sandro's farm.
Fabio knows exactly what has to be done on the farm at home in Sölden. There are all kinds of brown cattle, goats and old Styrian chicken to look after on the farm. He lends a hand as it was the most natural thing in the world. He prefers to "take care of everything that has to do with machines".
Fabio Gstrein says: "I truly like cutting trees in the forest. If there is something to be cut in the community forest, we always do it ourselves. It is a privilege to be able to do that. "
He trains well and resolutely for the upcoming World Cup season, focusing on slalom and giant slalom, strengthening also body and mind. His recipe for mental training is to have detailed discussions and do appropriate exercises.
He doesn't say where he performs his exercises. It can of course also be on the tractor when the wood is to be cut.
“I regain energy and strength at home. Most of all, I like to lend a hand on my brother’s farm. Above all, I take care of everything that has to do with machines. Whenever there is something to cut in the community forest, I'm happy to be there too.“
Profile
🙋♂️ Name: Fabio Gstrein (nickname among his ÖSV teammates: “Ötzi”)
📆 Date of birth: June 14, 1997
🏠 Hometown: Sölden
🎿 Club: SC Sölden
⛷️ Disciplines: Slalom, Giant Slalom
🧦 Equipment sponsors: Atomic, Komperdell
👮 Occupation: Police athlete
🥈 Achievements (selection): 2026 Olympic silver medal in slalom; World Cup: several podium finishes (including in Schladming and Sun Valley)
(As of July 2026)
In His Own Words
In the video, Fabio talks about his early days on skis, the significance of his Olympic silver medal, and his hometown of Sölden.
This article was originally published in April 2022 and was updated on July 02, 2026.