2024-01-20 21:48:12
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Thomas Dreßen celebrates an emotional farewell as a skier on the Streif run in Kitzbühel. Felix Neureuther feels goosebumps – tears flow.
Kitzbühel – Tears to say goodbye: Thomas Dreßen, Germany’s most successful downhill skier in history with five World Cup victories, rode the Hahnenkamm race for the last time on Saturday. The German ski ace is calling it a day, but once he wanted to throw himself down the Streif run. After the last race in Dreßen there were tears, Felix Neureuther also felt for him – the most successful German skier with 13 individual victories was even speechless.
Born:22. November 1993 (age 30), Garmisch-PartenkirchenPartner:Birgit LankmaierWorld Cup victories5 downhill runs (including Kitzbühel 2018)End of career:20. January 2024
Dreßen’s emotional end to his career on the Streif downhill run in Kitzbühel
At the finish line, Thomas Dreßen was greeted by numerous colleagues, companions and his family with his wife and baby and carried on their shoulders. After a great career there was also a kiss from his wife and a champagne shower. Pure emotions in Kitzbühel.
“I wanted to enjoy the ride, so I did. It wasn’t until ten meters before the finish line that I realized: That was it. I’m proud of the last trip,” said the 30-year-old with moist eyes following his farewell trip in an interview with ARD. “I wanted to say goodbye to everyone.” Felix Neureuther, who was at Dreßen’s side, became emotional as co-commentator shortly following crossing the finish line.
Felix Neureuther (left) warms ski ace Thomas Dreßen, who is ending his career following the Kitzbühel downhill run. In the picture on the right, the 2018 winner gets a kiss from his wife. © Screenshot/ARD
Goosebumps farewell to Dreßen on the Kitzbühel descent: Felix Neueuther “can’t talk anymore”
“Enjoy this driveway, this steep slope once more, even if there isn’t that much to enjoy. What a crazy guy, Thomas Dreßen! Probably the man with the most feeling in this World Cup circus. Now please just enjoy it. Hear the audience,” said Neureuther on the ARD microphone during Dreßen’s last shot.
“Thank you Thomas Dreßen for the wonderful moments you gave us. Thanks! Goosebumps!”, Germany’s best slalom skier paid tribute to the best downhill skier in German history, then Neureuther was speechless: “I have tears in my eyes, I can’t talk anymore.”
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After Dreßen announced the end of his career on Thursday and skipped the shortened Kitzbühel descent on Friday, the man from Garmisch wanted to enjoy the Hahnenkamm Race once once more to the fullest. To say goodbye to the ski circus with dignity.
“I have to say thank you, it was an incredible time, with ups and downs. Of course it’s a shame that it’s over. It was always clear to me that I would ride as long as I had fun or my body cooperated,” said a relieved and happy Dreßen. “But there is also life followingward, which is more important to me. I want to raise my children to be sporty myself, and that requires a healthy dad.” The man from Garmisch repeatedly had to struggle with serious injuries; in Wengen, Dreßen was close to tears when Germany’s ski ace suffered a bitter setback.
Dreßen farewell live on ARD: Neureuther fights back tears once more
Neureuther fought back tears once more: “I have tears in my eyes once more. When you stop and come back, all the memories will come back. I had goosebumps, we mightn’t even talk anymore. Thank you for great moments.”
Dreßen will almost certainly come back, as he announced. As a spectator, but perhaps one day also in an official capacity. “Skiing is my life, my great passion. I hope that I can continue to do something in skiing in the future, that would really appeal to me,” said Dreßen. With the Kitzbühel winner from 2018, the DSV is losing its big figurehead as an active driver. Now he can devote himself to other things besides his family; Dreßen recently completed a 150-kilometer cycling marathon. (ck)
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