Skiing legend Maier retires

Eurosport - Tue, 13 Oct 13:26:00 2009

Austrian Alpine skiing champion and Olympic gold medallist Hermann Maier ended his 13-year career, saying he wanted to retire while still in good health.

World Cup and double Olympic ski champion Hermann Maier of Austria cries during a news conference in Vienna - 0

Maier, 36, was known for spectacular crashes and staged an unlikely comeback after almost losing his lower leg in a motorcycle accident in 2001.

"I have decided that I will draw a line and end my career as a ski racer as of today," Maier said, frequently pausing to fight back tears before breaking down after finishing his statement.

"My big goal was to get back in shape physically and I have achieved exactly that," he said. "With regard to my future life, my health was paramount for me and that's why I'm calling it quits now."

Maier took on the nickname The Herminator' for a style that relied more on physical strength than technical brilliance, in an allusion to the character played by compatriot Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Terminator' science fiction movie.

He won his first Olympic gold medal at the 1998 Games in Nagano, Japan just three days after a dramatic crash during the downhill race from which he emerged only slightly bruised.

Asked what he was thinking while hurtling 40 metres into a deep off-piste snowbank, he said: "I thought, 'If I now win gold, I'll be immortal'."

Maier chalked up a succession of victories over the next few years but his luck ran out in 2001 when he crashed into a car as he rode his motorcycle home from a training session.

The surgery took seven hours during which doctors considered amputating his lower leg.

Maier was out of action for more than a year but staged a spectacular comeback in his favourite race, the Kitzbuehl Streif, where he won the World Cup Super-G in January 2003.

Maier, whose talent was discovered relatively late when he was 23 years old, won 54 World Cup races, making him the second most successful male skier ever after Sweden's Ingemar Stenmark.

He won four overall World Cup titles and several more in his favourite downhill, Super G and giant slalom disciplines, collected two gold medals at the 1998 Winter Olympics and claimed three world championship titles.

Reuters

Comment 2 - 21 of 21

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  1. Hero!

    From Calum, on Mon 19 Oct 4:06PM

  2. What a shock to see the great Herman leave the scene­ that he has dominated for so long. This guy will go­ down in skiing history as not only a great leading­ competitor, but also as a wonderful inspiration for­ both determination, and skill.
    Life will never be quite­ the same without seeing his marvellous attacking­ technique, racing down the slopes.
    I wish you well­ Herman, and success in whatever you choose to do­ now.
    Godspeed
    Raymond

    From Alan, on Sun 18 Oct 4:25PM

  3. Herminator- you were the greatest!!!

    From Ecky, on Sun 18 Oct 2:09PM

  4. Simply the Greatest Skier of probably the greatest­ skiing nation.
    You presented us a fantastic decade.­ Thank you for all...

    From Boris, on Sat 17 Oct 7:14PM

  5. Stenmark was magnificent, but I'd have to say you­ were the most dominant ski racer ever. A complete joy­ to watch. Enjoy your retirement and stay in skiing in­ some capacity. You defined this era.

    From madtown_99, on Thu 15 Oct 3:12PM

  6. Herman. Right up there with the best of the best, shame­ you retired before the olympics in Canada, but goodbye­ and good luck for the future to one of the world­ greates skiers.
    You will be missed.

    From Steve, on Thu 15 Oct 1:59PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Watch the world cup in South Africa. Get job at­ macmoneyjobs. Fort McMurray Jobs, South Africa 2010.

    From Zig Z, on Wed 14 Oct 10:15PM

  8. Good bye Herminator. Your guts and your agressive style­ will always be remembered!
    A glorious page closed. Good­ luck for your personal life.

    From hamid, on Wed 14 Oct 2:54PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Would you like to make friends with people from other­ country or place?
    Log on--------- T ALL Cha t ---C o m­ ----
    Then you can get help and suggestions from all­ over the world.
    While you may find your true love or­ friendship there.

    From janetko25, on Wed 14 Oct 4:02AM

  10. sorry to see him go, but everyone retires. The guy was­ just indestructible! That crash in Nagano, i thought­ for sure he'd be crippled. Then they thought­ he'd never walk again after his accident, let alone­ ski! He's basically won everything a skier can­ win...he brought a lot of colour to the sport and will­ really be missed.

    From Miss Penelope, on Wed 14 Oct 1:10AM

  11. Good luck Herman! Thank you for all. It was an honour­ watching you and your successes and because of skiers­ like you we all adore and love alpine skiing.

    From Rashko P, on Tue 13 Oct 11:22PM

  12. Good luck for the future Herman, you will be sadly­ missed this season being the olympics as well.
    What a­ great ambassador to the sport, its skiiers like you­ that got me to put on skis and learn the sport
    aswell.­ Thanks and good luck for the future.

    From kymcruddas, on Tue 13 Oct 10:02PM

  13. The legend of The Hermannator will never be forgotten.

    From big_davey_b, on Tue 13 Oct 8:09PM

  14. He really was super strong super brave super risky and­ super talentless all at the same time - a very complex­ character but a winner .

    From michael b, on Tue 13 Oct 6:19PM

  15. Viel Gluck Herman ( Good luck )

    and thanks Herminator­ , you will always be remebered in the same way as­ Franz Klammer, two greats.

    daveH

    From David H, on Tue 13 Oct 5:11PM

  16. It's sad to see a legend and a great sportsman­ retire. I wish him all the very best for the future!

    From Andre, on Tue 13 Oct 4:01PM

  17. i will miss you, Hermann!

    From Stephan, on Tue 13 Oct 3:53PM

  18. one of the greatest ski racers of all time.

    From evanelevan, on Tue 13 Oct 3:21PM

  19. YOU HAVE TO BE PROUD OF YOUR CAREER HERMAN!
    YOU WERE­ THE GUY I USED TO ADMIRE WHEN I STARTED TO WATCH ALPINE­ SKIING

    From Vítor, on Tue 13 Oct 3:12PM

  20. Maier has been a credit and a great ambassador for the­ sport.. he will be sadly missed!

    From Kenneth, on Tue 13 Oct 2:42PM
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