A really big player has left: Carlo Janka really was that good

Carlo Janka's career was marked by great success and devastating injuries. Now the Swiss has retired from skiing at the age of 35. SportNews looks back on Janka's career.

On December 21, 2005, Janka entered the World Cup stage in Kranjska Gora. Almost three years later he set the first milestone when he rushed to second place in the downhill race in Lake Louise with start number 65 (!). What is particularly noteworthy is the fact that this was only Janka's third downhill race ever in the World Cup. Two weeks later he stood on top of the podium for the first time in Val d'Isere (giant slalom). Olympic and World Cup overall champion What followed was a magnificent triumph. In 2009 he was crowned giant slalom world champion - again in Val d'Isere. He won World Championship bronze in the downhill. A year later, Janka not only won Olympic gold in the giant slalom, but also the overall World Cup. These were to be the greatest triumphs of his career, even though he had health problems during the summer preparation (a viral illness put him out of action for weeks). Carlo Janka with the large crystal ball: the Swiss won the overall World Cup in 2010. © AFP / SAMUEL KUBANI

The first major setback came in December 2010. The Swiss Ski Association announced that Janka was suffering from a cardiac arrhythmia. He had to take breaks again and again and missed, among other things, the World Cup downhill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, but was still able to achieve four World Cup podium places at the end of the season. Chronic back pain was also a constant companion for Janka, so he repeatedly had to forego racing. This had an impact on FIS points and start lists. Janka fell further and further behind. Phoenix from the Ashes: Janka in Beaver Creek In 2013, Janka had fallen so far behind that he had to start in Beaver Creek as the third-to-last driver (number 68). The 6th place in the giant slalom was like a small miracle for the Swiss, who subsequently made his way back to the top of the world. Finally, he was able to win two more races in 2015 in Wengen (combination) and in 2016 at the Olympic dress rehearsal in PyeongChang (super-G). And speaking of Beaver Creek: In 2009, Janka won all three World Cup competitions (combination, downhill, giant slalom) in the American ski resort. Janka achieved the last podium place in 2020 on the descent in Kvitfjell. <a data-fancybox="gallery-test" class="spn-fancybox uk-inline first" href="https://s3-images.sportnews.bz/_images/scale/1400x800/img/2022/01/an-der-seite-von-zwei-suedtirolern-in-aspencolorado-janka-nach-platz-3-bei-der-abfahrt-beim-weltcupfinale-2017.jpg" data-caption="An der Seite von zwei Südtirolern in Aspen/Colorado: Janka nach Platz 3 bei der Abfahrt beim Weltcupfinale 2017. © GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / EZRA SHAW" data-type="image"> <a data-fancybox="gallery-test" class="spn-fancybox uk-inline first" href="https://s3-images.sportnews.bz/_images/scale/1400x800/img/2022/01/janka-war-ein-allrounder-wie-auch-die-statistiken-zeigen-12-mal-siegte-er-in-vier-verschiedenen-disziplinen.jpg" data-caption="Janka war ein Allrounder, wie auch die Statistiken zeigen: 12 Mal siegte er in vier verschiedenen Disziplinen. © AFP / FABRICE COFFRINI" data-type="image">

But his favorite World Cup venue was and remained Wengen. Under the Lauberhorn, Janka stood on the podium eight times, three of which were at the top. In 2010 he won the traditional downhill. Now the family man, who goes by the nickname “Jänks”, has ended his career at this prestigious location in the Bernese Oberland. But the ski legend Janka, with his twelve victories in four disciplines, will never be forgotten.

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Hockey

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

A really big player has left: Carlo Janka really was that good

Carlo Janka, a great ski racer, said goodbye to the World Cup stage on Saturday. It is no coincidence that his last appearance took place in Wengen. The Lauberhorn races were like a second living room for the Swiss.

Suggestions

Comments (0)