Surprising resignation from the ÖSV team. © APA / EXPA/JOHANN GRODER

In Alta Badia: Surprising resignation from the ÖSV team

Immediately after the first giant slalom in Alta Badia there was surprising news from the ÖSV district.

17 December 2023

From: apa/dl

Roland Leitinger has announced his retirement from active sports. The giant slalom specialist informed teammates and media representatives of this step on Sunday at the ÖSV team headquarters in Alta Badia. One last appearance at the home race in Schladming on January 23rd is still possible. The greatest success of the Salzburg native from St. Martin near Lofer was winning the silver medal at the 2017 Alpine World Championships in St. Moritz.

“After Val d'Isere I decided to end my career,” said Leitinger. “It all feels right. I have my problems on the physical side and the feeling that I can no longer find the connection.” There have been ups and downs. “I am grateful for everything I was able to experience,” he added. He could imagine staying involved in skiing in the future.

“I feel like I’m no longer keeping up.” Roland Leitinger

The fact that the career of the now 32-year-old came to a halt was also due to some serious injuries, as Leitinger mentioned. Alta Badia also plays a special role in this regard, as he suffered a torn cruciate ligament here for the first time in December 2013. Two more knee injuries of this type followed. In his private life, Leitinger is fortunate. After the wedding in spring 2022, the avowed Rapid supporter and his wife Simone are expecting their first offspring in March 2024.