Image: GEPA pictures
Innsbruck. In the past few months it has been quiet around Gregor Schlierenzauer, the 53-time world cup winner in ski jumping. But now the 31-year-old has announced his decision about his sporting future on his internet blog: Gregor Schlierenzauer is ending his career. “The last few months have been challenging for me. In a positive way. Due to the injury break, I had enough time and the necessary distance to come to terms with the past and see where I am now. Ending my active career is after all that It wasn't easy for me to experience as a top athlete – but the decision feels right, as does the timing. “
The track record of the Tyrolean is unparalleled in ski jumping: Record World Cup winners (53 singles, 17 teams), 2x overall World Cup winners (2008/09, 2012/13), 2x winners of the Four Hills Tournament (2011/12, 2012/13). At the Olympic Games in Vancouver (2010) Schlierenzauer won two bronze medals on the large and normal hill, and he also brought the gold medal to Austria as part of the team.
Four years later, in Sochi (2014), the team won the silver medal again. At Nordic World Ski Championships and Ski Flying World Championships, Schlierenzauer won a total of 17 precious metals, including 10 gold. Schlierenzauer is not only the most successful World Cup ski jumper of all time, but has also inspired and shaped a whole generation of young athletes with his successes.
After his last World Cup victory on December 6, 2014 in Lillehammer (NOR), years followed in which Schlierenzauer was no longer able to achieve the numerous sporting successes up to then. Above all, it was a time of human growth for the then just 24-year-old. A time in which he repeatedly demonstrated his great sportsmanship, love for ski jumping, stamina and resilience.
Gregor Schlierenzauer wrote in his blog on Tuesday: “I also really appreciate the support of my coaches and partners, who literally gave me wings. They shaped, pushed and caught me, but never bent me. A thank you goes to that too Austrian Ski Association and the Tyrol Olympic Center, all the supervisors, doctors, my team colleagues and the many inspiring people I was able to get to know on and off the jumps. “
Schlierenzauer had to end the past 2020/21 season with a knee injury shortly before the start of the Nordic World Ski Championships in Oberstdorf (GER). At the beginning of this week Schlierenzauer informed old companions about his decision and said goodbye. Mario Stecher: “Gregor did a great job for ski jumping. His extraordinary career is peppered with superlatives. He has basically achieved everything there is to be achieved. “
