Hannes Reichelt stops: “I’m looking forward to my family”

The 40-year-old from Salzburg won 13 World Cup races in his career and won the Super-G classification in the 2007/08 season. The husband of the former South Tyrolean ski racer Larissa Hofer was no longer able to join the world elite after he tore the cruciate ligament in his right knee during the Bormio downhill run in December 2019. A knee injury recently prevented him from competing in Saalbach-Hinterglemm.

“I had the feeling that after 20 years in the Ski World Cup, the time had come to say goodbye. During the races I found it increasingly difficult to overcome myself and push myself to the limit. It was clear to me that I would either ride at full speed or not at all; I really wanted to try it again this season. “I think I tried everything after the cruciate ligament tear and I can’t blame myself,” said Reichelt, who will say goodbye as a “forerunner” at the Alpine season finale in Lenzerheide on Thursday. “Fortunately, I had a lot of great successes” Hannes Reichelt Reichelt competed in his first World Cup race on December 7, 2001. According to the FIS database, he made 305 World Cup appearances and was on the podium 44 times. In addition to the 2015 World Championship title in Beaver Creek, the Kitzbühel downhill victory at the end of January 2014 also stood out. Drove out with tremendous back pain, which was diagnosed just two days later as a severe herniated disc. Instead of taking part in the Olympic Games in Sochi, he had to immediately undergo an operation. At the beginning of December, Reichelt returned to the top with victory in the World Cup Super-G in Beaver Creek. The last World Cup victory was achieved by the always level-headed calm in the ÖSV men's speed team on March 16, 2017 at the World Cup final in Aspen in the Super-G, the last podium place in January 2018 when third in the Hahnenkamm downhill.

Hannes Reichelt's greatest success: In 2015 he was crowned Super-G world champion in Beaver Creek. © APA/epa / HANS KLAUS TECHT

“Fortunately, I had a lot of great successes. There are a few situations that keep buzzing through my mind and were just crazy. For example, that I was on the podium at my second World Cup race in Val Gardena,” Reichelt remembered.

Regarding his plans after his career, he says: “I always planned to go to university after my career, that still plays a role in my thoughts. Of course I would like to stay involved in skiing in some form, but I don't know exactly how yet. I’m also really looking forward to spending time with my family.”

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Hannes Reichelt stops: “I’m looking forward to my family”

Former Super-G world champion Hannes Reichelt announced his retirement from alpine skiing on Wednesday. He wants to spend more time with his loved ones in the future - also in South Tyrol.

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