Austria's Stephan Eberharter, one of the greatest champions in the history of the alpine ski sport, announced in Vienna on Friday that he is retiring from competition.

Eberharter, who turned 35 in March, made this announcement during a press conference held in the centre of the Austrian Capital in the Uniqa Building where dozens of journalists and staff-members of the Austrian Ski Federation gathered to meet him. He placed his blue Carrera helmet in front of him during the press-conference in the middle of the numerous microphones of the Austrian TV and Radio stations. "I have decided to give up that activity which I practiced for almost 20 years because I felt it was time to move on," he said at the press conference which was broadcasted life on Austrian TV for half an hour.
"It took me much time because I love ski racing a lot and I wanted to be sure to take the right decision," he added on. "But since last spring, I was aware that my body was worn out. I was sick last winter and I had a hard time getting back in shape. It was frustrating. I didn't feel any longer the fire in me to make more sacrifices. Ski racing is a tough sport and you have to be 100% motivated and fully happy to train hard and fight your way down the ski slopes. Pleasure is the strongest driving force in sports." "It’s not possible to do it only 80% as some people speculated. I heard the rumours about the possibility that I would only compete in a few "Classics" and then at Bormio, where I was already qualified for the Super-G as defending champion from 2003." "But it was never an option for me, it would have been too dangerous. Or you do it totally or your leave the scene. It's a tough decision but it's great to be healthy and to leave at the top." Eberharter has made no concrete plans for his future except that he wishes to visit a few World Cup races as a tourist. Last summer, Eberharter mostly plaid golf, sailed with some friends in the Mediterranean Sea and relaxed. He also climbed-up the gruelling Alpes d'Huez road with his bike before the Tour de France riders. A double overall World Cup winner in 2002 and 2003, Eberharter also clinched four gold medals at past Olympics and World Championships and a total of eight medals since 1991. He captured his third consecutive downhill World Cup title last winter and was a close 2nd in the overall standings behind team-mate Hermann Maier.
He made his debut on the World Cup circuit in November 1989 in Park City, finishing eighth in a giant slalom won by Norway’s Ole-Kristian Furuseth. A year later he reached his first podium in a Super-G in Valloire where he came in 3rd behind France’s Franck Piccard and Switzerland’s Franz Heinzer. With a total of 18 wins from November 2000 to March 2004, and 38 podiums finishes, he is one of the leading skiers in downhill. Only Switzerland's Peter Mueller (19 wins) and Ski Legend Franz Klammer (25 win) won more World Cup downhill races in their career. He also won six Super-G races and 5 giant slaloms. Eberharter, only 21 when he conquered his first two gold medals at Saalbach in 1991, became a very popular athlete in Austria thanks to his amazing comeback in 1997 and his intense rivalry with Hermann Maier who beat him very often until 2001.

After a series of injuries and physical problems, the handsome Tyrolian lost his spot on the National Ski Team in 1996 after crashing out of the Super-G at the Ski Worlds in Sierra Nevada. But he was allowed to continue competing on the Europa Cup "B" level in 1997 and he requalified for the "A" team in clearly winning it with a series of great wins. Despite high start-numbers, he soon achieved great results on the World Cup tour during the 1997/98 season, winning Olympic silver in giant slalom in Nagano and his very first World Cup race at the Finals in Crans-Montana. He peaked in 2002 in winning his first overall World Cup title as well as three Olympic medals in Salt Lake City, including one in gold in giant slalom. Many experts including USSA’s Daron Rahlves consider him as one of the foremost perfect and focused racers on and off the slopes. His drive, his dedication and his search for perfection are impressive - only his great rival Hermann Maier can compete with him on those levels.

"We lose a great champion but Stephan will always remain a wonderful example for the younger generation," said his President Peter Schroksnadel, who strongly supported Eberharter in the difficult 90's. Fortunately for him, Maier, "only" 31, confirmed last month that he plans to continue racing at least for three more years. The Austrian team remains by far the most powerful group on the alpine scene.

Patrick Lang