Skier Maier announces retirement

Maier made his World Cup debut over 13 years ago

Austrian ski star Hermann Maier has announced his retirement, blaming physical problems for his decision.

The 36-year-old won Olympic gold in the Super-G and Giant Slalom events in 1998 at Nagano and also claimed a silver and a bronze in 2006 in Torino.

He won three world titles in Super-G and downhill in 1999, and in the Giant Slalom in 2005. He also claimed two silvers in 2001 and a bronze in 2003.

In addition, Maier won 54 World Cup races and clinched four overall titles.

Maier injured his knee last March but resumed training and had been targeting a return to the World Cup at the end of November at Canada's Lake Louise.

But he said: "I have decided to bring to an end my career as a competitive skier. After a lot of thought, the decision just made itself spontaneously.

"Everything went to plan and my body is in an incredible condition as has been shown by two days' skiing on the mountains of Soelden."

606: DEBATE Give your reaction to Maier's retirement

But a tearful Maier said concerns over his longer-term health had taken precedence.

"I came to the conclusion after a few days mulling it over that I should draw a line under my career as a ski racer as of today," he said.

"It was important for me to get healthy and so that's why I'm bringing down the curtain.

"It wasn't an easy decision, and it's difficult to let go. I'm ending a career which as a kid I could hardly imagine ever turning out better."

Nicknamed 'The Herminator', Maier began competing on the circuit in 1996.

He won his first World Cup event the following year, but Maier's career was almost ended in 2001 when he nearly lost a leg in a motorcycle accident.

But the skier known for his durability and work ethic won the World Cup super-G at Kitzbuehel in a remarkable comeback in January 2003, after more than a year in rehabilitation.