He's back: Matthias Mayer returns. © APA/afp / PATRICK T. FALLON

In a new role: Matthias Mayer is back on the ski stage

Shortly before the end of the year, Matthias Mayer caused a ski earthquake with his completely unexpected resignation. Now the former Olympic champion is back – in a new role.

June 01, 2023

From: apa/det

Olympic champion Matthias Mayer, who unexpectedly resigned last season, is entering the coaching business in the Austrian association in an advisory capacity as a mentor to the speed team. The 32-year-old from Carinthia will contribute his expertise in the preparation and at some World Cup stages, as Ski Austria announced on Thursday. Mayer will be there, among other things, at the speed opener in Zermatt, in Bormio, Kitzbühel and at the season finale in Saalbach.

The Austrian suddenly declared his successful career over at the end of December during the World Cup in Bormio. A few months later, he returned to the ski circuit as a supervisor for his ex-colleagues. “Comeback is a good keyword, but certainly not as an active racer, but I will be there in the World Cup. I will take on an advisory mentor role, and I’m really looking forward to that,” explained Mayer.

This is what his new role looks like

He describes his role as follows: “My specific task is that there is a permanent team of trainers and I am there to accompany them and try to give the trainers a hand, support them and develop the whole thing a little further.” He I'm very excited about the new task. “I’m happy to be back in the team and to be out with the boys. On the other hand, it is completely new territory for me. I'm excited and thinking about what I can bring to the table. I’m excited to see how this will be received and how I can realize myself a little bit in the whole thing.”

Mayer is one of the best skiers in Austria's history. © NTB / STIAN LYSBERG SOLUM

He will be in action for the first time in autumn at a training course in Zermatt and there at the Speed ​​World Cup opener, as well as in Bormio and Kitzbühel and at the season finale in Saalbach. In addition, Mayer also wants to help out at the European Cup in Saalbach to support the younger athletes and young talent.

A coaching career is possible

In the medium term, a real coaching role is also conceivable. “Trainer training is a very high goal in Austria. I think I will be moving in this direction in the next few years.” But he wants to take it step by step and will initially work in an advisory role.

In his career, Mayer had primarily competed at the Olympic Games and won gold three times. In 2014 in the downhill, in 2018 and 2022 in the Super-G, plus a downhill bronze last year in Beijing. The winner of eleven World Cup races, including two in Kitzbühel, came away empty-handed several times at the World Championships, just behind the medal ranks. He was also denied a World Cup crystal ball.