Gordon "Gordi" Eaton (2016) - Hall of Fame

Middlebury College

Official Athletics Site of the middlebury college panthers

Hall of Fame

Gordon "Gordi" Eaton

Class

1962
Induction

2016
Sport(s)

Alpine Skiing, Coach

Gordi Eaton, a member of the Class of 1962, officially graduated in 1965 after his academic career was interrupted three times while he represented the United States at the Olympic Games and World Championships. He qualified for the 1960 Olympics in Squaw Valley, California by winning the U.S. Olympic downhill trials in 1959. Eaton was second among U.S. finishers at the Olympic Games, finishing 17th overall. Upon his return to Middlebury, he won the NCAA downhill championship in 1961. He qualified for both the 1962 World Championships and the 1964 Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, but was unable to compete due to an injury.

Eaton returned to Middlebury for one final year of racing in 1965 before coaching the U.S. Men’s National Team from 1966-69. During this time, he led the men’s alpine team at both the World Championships in Portillo, Chile in 1966 and the 1968 Olympics in Grenoble, France. He returned to Middlebury to coach the men’s and women’s alpine team with his wife, Karen as well as Charlie Brush from 1975-78.

Eaton is also a member of the Vermont Alpine Racing Association (VARA) Hall of Fame.