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Thomas Dorner has announced the end of his career.
On December 29, Matthias Mayer (32) suddenly ended his career. The speed specialist announced his resignation during a TV interview.
Now the next athlete is hanging up the battens. “It’s time for me to move on and start a new chapter in life,” writes Thomas Dorner on Instagram. At the age of 24 he decided to draw a line under skiing.
“Ever since I was a little boy, I always wanted to be a World Cup skier,” Dorner continues. ‘And I did it. Well, actually I did ten World Cup races and got six points, but the little boy would still be proud.”
Nine of the ten races were giant slalom. He was eliminated three times in the first run, otherwise he missed the qualification for the second run. He won the six points in 2021 as 25th in the parallel race from Lech/Zürs (Austria). He also had the final appearance on the World Cup stage in his home country. At the start of the current season he was 55th in the Sölden giant slalom.
“To be remembered as a good friend”
Dorner was more successful in the European Cup. There he finished third on the podium twice: in 2019 in a parallel slalom and in 2020 in a giant slalom.
He thanks everyone who has accompanied him on his journey and emphasizes what was the most important thing about ski racing for him: “To be remembered as a good friend, teammate and above all as an athlete.”
The hope that he will succeed is fulfilled by numerous comments. Many Austrian ski stars like Philipp Schörghofer, Patrick Feurstein, Franziska Gritsch and Nina Ortlieb or the Swiss Gilles Roulin wish him all the best.
Adelboden without Leitinger
With his resignation, Dorner will not catapult himself out of the starting box again. At least in the next few races, one of his teammates will not do the same: Roland Leitinger (31).
The giant slalom vice world champion from 2017 made his comeback in December after a cruciate ligament rupture. And complained of pain in the operated knee after suffering a blow. Now he has to skip the race in Adelboden. “He’s in constant pain and just tormenting himself. That doesn’t make any sense,” says head coach Marko Pfeifer to the “Kurier”. Leitinger is also in danger of missing the World Championships (February 6th to 19th) in Courchevel/Méribel (Friday). (bir)
Bang in the ski circus: The Austrian Matthias Mayer declares his immediate resignation(01:12)
Attention ski fans! Now quiz and type races
The 2022/2023 ski season is coming up and with it the “Blick Ski Trophy”: answer questions every day, type ski races and crown yourself as ski champion. Lots of great prizes await.
To take part in the “Blick Ski Trophy”, you have to register here.
Have fun and good luck!
The 2022/2023 ski season is coming up and with it the “Blick Ski Trophy”: answer questions every day, type ski races and crown yourself as ski champion. Lots of great prizes await.
To take part in the “Blick Ski Trophy”, you have to register here.
Have fun and good luck!