Austrian ski racer Michaela Kirchgasser was born in Schwarzach im Pongau, Salzburg, and races in all events disciplines but specializes in the technical events of slalom and giant slalom.

On November 25, 2006, she made her first World Cup podium with a third place in the giant slalom at Aspen, Colorado. Her first victory was on February 24, 2007, in a giant slalom at Sierra Nevada, Spain. Her first World Cup podium in slalom came on the third day of 2012 at Zagreb, Croatia. Less than three weeks later, she won her first World Cup slalom at Kranjska Gora, Slovenia and then won again in the slalom at the World Cup finals in Schladming to finish second in the slalom season standings, runner-up to compatriot Marlies Schild.