Julia Mancuso : biography
Julia Mancuso (born March 9, 1984) is a World Cup alpine ski racer with the U.S. Ski Team. Born in Reno, Nevada, she was the gold medalist in the giant slalom at the 2006 Winter Olympics and the silver medalist in both downhill and combined at the 2010 Winter Olympics. She has also won five medals (two silver and three bronze) at the World Championships and seven races in regular World Cup competition. Her three Olympic medals are the most ever for a female American alpine skier.
Lifestyle and endorsements
Mancuso’s nickname among her U.S. Ski Team teammates and fans is "Super Jules". Following her Olympic gold medal in 2006, a ski run at Squaw Valley Ski Resort was renamed "Julia’s Gold".
After her coach gave her a plastic tiara as a good-luck token in 2005, she wore it over her racing helmet during several slalom races. She wore her tiara following her Silver Medal run in the Women’s Downhill and again at the medal ceremony at the 2010 Winter Olympics. In 2010, Mancuso launched her own lingerie line named Kiss My Tiara. Mancuso also models lingerie and has been memorably quoted as saying, "I think underwear is my calling. You can be feminine and fast."
In December 2006, Lange ski boots announced that Mancuso would be the first-ever "Lange Girl Athlete", and be the subject of posters, images, and an "ongoing effort to showcase exceptional women ski athletes who are also attractive and inspiring". She switched to Völkl skis and Marker bindings following the 2010 season; she was previously with Rossignol. – Mancuso joins Marker Volkl Team – 2010-05-04 Mancuso changed equipment suppliers after the 2012 season and now uses Head skis, boots, and bindings.
During the 2010 Winter Olympics, VISA featured Mancuso in an animated story describing how as a child she had drawn a picture of herself as a gold medalist, and closing with a photograph of her after winning the gold medal in 2006. She also starred in a commercial for 24 Hour Fitness called ‘Reach Your Potential’, directed by Emmy nominee Brent Roske. In 2012, Julia appears in the GoPro Hero3 video promotion.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3PDXmYoF5U
World Cup results
Season standings
| Season | Age | Overall | Slalom | GiantSlalom | Super G | Downhill | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 16 | 113 | 55 | — | 47 | — | — |
| 2002 | 17 | 73 | — | — | 37 | 33 | 17 |
| 2003 | 18 | 46 | 44 | — | 25 | 27 | 5 |
| 2004 | 19 | 55 | 32 | 58 | 27 | 42 | — |
| 2005 | 20 | 9 | 26 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 6 |
| 2006 | 21 | 8 | 22 | 11 | 6 | 11 | 8 |
| 2007 | 22 | 3 | 24 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 2008 | 23 | 7 | 28 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 6 |
| 2009 | 24 | 27 | 42 | 17 | 27 | 24 | 36 |
| 2010 | 25 | 20 | — | 28 | 16 | 9 | 22 |
| 2011 | 26 | 5 | 51 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| 2012 | 27 | 4 | 50 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 22 |
| 2013 | 28 | 4 | 33 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 6 |
