Maria Hoefl-Riesch has decided to call time on her illustrious career. A career that has seen her win ... 4 Olympic medals, three Gold and a silver medal; 1 Overall globe and 5 discipline Globes and 27 World Cup races wins across Downhill, Super G, Slalom and Super Combined: A true Champion from the HEAD World Cup Rebels team.
"The decision has been made: I'm finishing my career as an active skier," Hoefl-Riesch said in Munich. "I gave everything I had for another Olympic medal, I worked hard to fulfil this dream again. It went well in the super combined in Sochi, and this was a big relief for me. The decision was not easy but I am of the opinion you should stop when you are at your best,” she explained. The numbers are impressive on their own yet Maria was always open and friendly in dealing with both her fans and the media. It was on Twitter that she made the decision to retire public to her vast number of fans around the world after a press conference in Munich.
Johan Eliasch, CEO of HEAD, while sad that Maria had decided to call time on her career said: “I am very grateful for all the hard work that Maria put in to help make HEAD the brand that it is. With 27 race wins and the multiple medals and Globes she has won, she has proved that she is one of the greats of the sport. I wish her all the best for her future career.”
Maria collected her final Globe, the Downhill Globe for this season and was in the mix for the Overall all the way up to the end of the season until illness and injury curtailed her season. In a World Cup career that started in February 2001 and ended in March 2014, Maria stood on the podium 81 times from 356 starts on the World Cup and was a constant contender in the race for the Overall, only Giant Slalom eluded her in terms of race wins.
"I've been thinking a long time whether to do another season. The decision was not easy, but I think I am right. This was a fantastic career, I was in front in all disciplines over the years,” she explained.
And what are her plans for the future? “I'll enjoy a holiday and the feeling of not having to think about next season," she said.
PICTURE CREDIT: ZOOM AGENCE