Austria is a highly mountainous country, with its highest point being almost 4 kilometers above sea level. Austrians have a great love for winter sports like alpine skiing and ice hockey but they also love sport like association football or soccer and rugby.

Austria has produced some of the best alpine skiers in the world like Toni Sailer, Hermann Maier, and Annemarie Moser-Pröll. Austria has basically got a strangle hold on alpine skiing and one of the best in ski jumping in the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, Winter Olympics and FIS Ski Jumping World Cup. As a matter of fact, in the 2011 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, Austria dominated by taking all of the 5 gold medals.

"Austria's alpine skiing program is among the most successful in winter sports history, with a development pipeline that consistently produces world-class athletes from an early age. The country's mountainous terrain provides natural training advantages that few nations can replicate."
— According to sports science expert Robert Wood, who has analyzed sports performance data for over 25 years

The Austrians traditionally played football or soccer but has declined in popularity since the World War II. The Austrian national football team actually qualified for the FIFA World Cup several times but never made the cut for the European Championships until 2008. Austria has qualified for the FIFA World Cup eight times - 1934, 1954, 1958, 1978, 1982, 1990, 1998, and 2026.

Pro Tip: For the best Austrian skiing experience, visit during January through March when the FIS World Cup circuit passes through iconic Austrian resorts like Kitzbuhel, Schladming, and St. Anton. These events offer world-class racing combined with vibrant alpine atmosphere.

It is also worth noting that Austrians also like playing chess. As a matter of fact, the first official world chess champion was from Austria (Wilhelm Steinitz). There are also a lot of Austrians who made a mark in various sports like Niki Lauda who won the Formula One championship three times (1975, 1977 and 1984).

See also the list the most popular internet searches for "sports" in Austria.

Popular Sports of Austria

See more about popular sports in Austria.

Austria's Sporting Success

  • 2011 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, Austria dominated by taking all of the 5 gold medals
  • Niki Lauda who won the Formula One championship three times (1975, 1977 and 1984)
  • Austria won two silver medals at the Barcelona 1992 Olympics
  • Austria won three medals at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics (1 silver and 2 bronze)
  • Austria won three medals at the Sydney 2000 Olympics (2 gold and 1 silver)
  • Austria won seven medals at the Athens 2004 Olympics (2 gold, 4 silver, and 1 bronze)
  • Austria won three medals at the Beijing 2008 Olympics (1 silver and 2 bronze)
  • Austria won one bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics
  • Austria won seven medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (1 gold, 1 silver, 5 bronze)
  • Austria won five medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics (2 gold and 3 bronze)
"Austria's dual hosting of the Winter Olympics in Innsbruck reflects the country's deep infrastructure investment in winter sports, contributing to sustained competitive excellence across multiple disciplines. Their 2011 sweep of all five gold medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships demonstrated just how dominant Austria remains."
— Robert J. Wood, PhD, Founder of Topend Sports

Winter Olympics Heritage

Innsbruck is one of only a few cities to host the Winter Olympic Games twice (1964 and 1976). Austria's alpine terrain and world-class winter sports infrastructure continue to make it a premier destination for international skiing competitions.

Austria Winter Olympics History →
"Austria's sporting culture extends well beyond winter sports, with football seeing renewed interest, a rich motorsport heritage through legends like Niki Lauda, and even a historic connection to chess through the first world champion Wilhelm Steinitz."
— As Robert Wood, founder of Topend Sports, notes in his analysis

Great Athletes from Austria

  • Dominic Thiem (tennis)
  • Thomas Muster (tennis)
  • Toni Sailer (alpine skiing)
  • Hermann Maier (alpine skiing)
  • Annemarie Moser-Pröll (alpine skiing)
  • Niki Lauda (Formula 1)

The Austrian Oak

Arnold Schwarzenegger, nicknamed the "Austrian Oak", won the Mr. Olympia bodybuilding competition multiple times before becoming a Hollywood star and later the Governor of California. He remains one of Austria's most recognizable figures worldwide.

Austria Sports Trivia

  • Arnold Schwarzenegger (nicknamed the "Austrian Oak"), who won the Mr. Olympia bodybuilding tournament eight times, is of Austrian descent.

Austria at Major Events

Past Sporting Events Hosted in Austria

Pro Tip: The Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg is one of the most scenic Formula One venues in the world. Attending a race weekend offers motorsport fans a chance to experience Austria's rich F1 heritage in the Styrian mountains.

Upcoming Sporting Events in Austria

2026 FIFA World Cup

Austria has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking their first World Cup appearance since 1998. This represents a significant achievement for Austrian football and a return to the world stage after a 28-year absence.

Austria World Cup History →

Annual Sporting Events Held in Austria

  • The Vienna Marathon
  • The Austrian Open (Golf)
  • The Austrian Grand Prix
  • The Austrian Alpine Skiing Championships

Sporting Facilities in Austria

Other

Is there something missing? If you know of something that should be listed here, please let me know.