[1][2] The defending world champion was Lucile Wheeler of Canada,[3] who had retired the previous year; defending Olympic champion Madeleine Berthod of Switzerland did not compete in this event.

Nineteen-year-old Heidi Biebl of Germany won the gold medal, while American Penny Pitou was a second behind for the silver; the bronze medalist was Traudl Hecher of Austria.

This was the first Olympic downhill in which crash helmets were mandatory,[6] following the race death in 1959 of Canadian John Semmelink at Garmisch, West Germany.

[7][8] During his final race, Semmelink wore a leather helmet, which was more protection than many racers used at the time.

Ski Team first wore crash helmets at the 1956 Winter Olympics,[9] but most of the Europeans went without.