A scandal overshadowed the 84th Hahnenkamm Race in Kitzbühel. It’s regarding the three-time Olympic champion Matthias Mayer, who ended his ski career in December 2022. The 33-year-old is in Gamsstadt in an official capacity for Ski Austria. The Carinthian is involved as a coach (for the European Cup group) and advisor to the speed team.
At lunchtime he was still stoically calm and deeply relaxed, answering questions from reporters at a round table in the Hotel Kitzhof. In the evening hours the situation escalated (also there). According to witness statements, Mayer misbehaved with Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner at the reception of the Lower Austrian state government.
Mikl-Leitner insulted
Mayer insulted people, spilled red wine and insulted the state governor. He got on a chair and screamed.
The Carinthian was removed from the hall by police officers and taken to a hospital. “Ski Austria” commented on the incident as follows: “Today we had to note with regret that Matthias Mayer has not yet overcome the health problems with which he has been struggling for a long time. As the Ski Austria family, we share with him We always gave support to all athletes, colleagues and partners. We wish Matthias all the best and hope that he can return to his passion, skiing, as soon as possible. After consulting with his family, we ask for their respect and understanding that we cannot provide any further information can give.”
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Arnold Schwarzenegger and his girlfriend Heather Milligan (Photo: EXPA/JOHANN GRODER (APA)) Bild 1/19
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“It’s nice if you had a successful ski career”
When Mayer was chatting away at lunchtime, this later “crash” was in no way foreseeable. He was communicative, good-humoured and by no means sentimental. “There are almost more journalists there than when I was active. It’s just cool to come to Kitzbühel. I feel like I’m at home. It’s nice if you’ve had a successful skiing career. You can easily hit the slopes here go and pass something on to the boys,” said the former Hahnenkamm champion.
“I would like Vinc (Kriechmayr, note) to win a race once more. I don’t see the speed crisis as bad now,” said Mayer, who did not accept the decision to end his active career so abruptly regrets: “As a racer, you’re in a tunnel. When you stop, you can reorient yourself. For me, that’s exciting. I can also have the feeling of sport on the run-in slope, the turns with the tourist skis are enough for me.”
“As good as it is”
Does it no longer tingle at all? “There was certainly a moment here and there where I thought maybe it was a bit too early to stop. But I like it the way it is and am concentrating on my new job.”
Were the years in the Ski World Cup exhausting? “As an athlete, you plan your day meticulously and make sure everything fits perfectly. That can make you a little tired. For me, the time was just there when enough was enough,” Mayer explained: “I wasn’t mentally tired, I think so not me.”
Author
Alexander Zambarloukos
Sports editor
Alexander Zambarloukos
