Donat Acklin

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Donat Acklin

| image =

| image_size =

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| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|6 June 1965}}

| birth_place = Herznach, Switzerland

| death_date =

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| children =

| relatives = Guido Acklin (brother)
Lucia Acklin (niece)

| sport = Bobsleigh

| club = Bob-Club Zürichsee

| retired =

| headercolor = lightsteelblue

| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry| {{SUI}}}}

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Donat Acklin (born 6 June 1965 in Herznach) is a Swiss bobsledder who competed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He won two Winter Olympic gold meals in 1992 and 1994.

Career

Acklin rose to prominence in the late 1980s, where he placed fourth alongside Gustav Weder in the 1988 Winter Olympics two-man bobsled. The following year, he won the first of three FIBT World Championship medals in the four-man bob sled at Cortina d'Ampezzo securing silver.{{Cite web |title=Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Bob & Skeleton Championships (FIBT/IBSF) (469)|url=https://www.olympedia.org/lists/159/manual|website=olympedia.org}} Returning to the 1992 games, Acklin and Weder won gold in the two-man, despite being only fifth after the first two runs. Acklin would win a bronze medal in the four-man event at the same games.{{Cite web |title=Albertville 1992 two Man Bobsled Results|url=https://www.olympics.com/en/olympic-games/albertville-1992/results/bobsleigh/two-man-men|website=olympics.com}}

Acklin won gold and silver at the FIBT World Championships 1993 in Igls, before returning to the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. He successfully defended the title, and won gold once again in the two-man event, beating his brother Guido who finished second.{{Cite web |title=Lillehammer 1994 Bobsleigh Results|url=https://www.olympics.com/en/olympic-games/lillehammer-1994/results/bobsleigh|website=olympics.com}}{{Cite web |title=WINTER OLYMPICS; One Swiss Brother Tops Other in Bobsled|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/02/20/sports/winter-olympics-one-swiss-brother-tops-other-in-bobsled.html|website=nytimes.com}}{{Cite web |title=Brothers battle for bobsleigh gold|url=https://www.olympics.com/en/news/brothers-battle-for-bobsleigh-gold|website=olympics.com}} His final Olympic event yielded a silver medal in the four-man event, losing out to Germany by five tenths of a second.{{Cite web |title=17 Winter Olympic Games 1994 Bobsleigh Men Four|url=https://www.olympicgameswinners.com/winners/1994-lillehammer/bobsleigh/men/four|website=olympicgameswinners.com}}{{Cite web |title=Great Winter Olympic rivalries: Switzerland vs Germany - men's bobsleigh|url=https://www.olympics.com/en/news/great-winter-olympic-rivalries-switzerland-vs-germany-men-s-bobsleigh|website=olympics.com}}

Personal life

Acklin was born in Herznach and is affiliated to the Bob Club Zurichsee. His brother, Guido also competed for Switzerland in bobsled. His niece is Lucia Acklin, a professional multi-event athlete who represents Switzerland.{{Cite web |title=Donat Acklin|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/83158|website=olympedia.org}}

References

External links

{{Olympedia}}
{{Olympics.com profile}}

Category:1965 births

Category:Bobsledders at the 1988 Winter Olympics

Category:Bobsledders at the 1992 Winter Olympics

Category:Bobsledders at the 1994 Winter Olympics

Category:Living people

Category:Olympic gold medalists for Switzerland

Category:Olympic silver medalists for Switzerland

Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Switzerland

Category:Olympic bobsledders for Switzerland

Category:Swiss male bobsledders

Category:Olympic medalists in bobsleigh

Category:Medalists at the 1992 Winter Olympics

Category:Medalists at the 1994 Winter Olympics

Category:20th-century Swiss sportsmen