Retirement at 32: Distressed Austrian skier retires

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Roland Leitinger has experienced many ups and downs in recent years. Now the Austrian has had enough. He announced on Sunday evening that he is ending his career as a skier at the age of 32.

The reason: Leitinger has lost his regular starting place in the Austrian team and would have to qualify for the races in an internal elimination. And he lacks the motivation for that.

Two podiums and a World Cup medal

In his career, the giant slalom specialist took part in 72 World Cup competitions and reached the podium twice: in 2019 when he came third in the parallel race in Alta Badia (I) and in 2021 when he came second in the giant slalom in Sölden (O). Leitinger celebrated his greatest success in 2017 in St. Moritz GR. At the World Championships he finished second in the giant slalom behind compatriot Marcel Hirscher (34).

His career was also marked by many injuries. Before that World Cup season, he had to take a two-month break due to serious back problems. In January 2018 he tore his cruciate ligament and subsequently missed the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang (SKor). The same fate befell him at the start of the 2021/22 season. Particularly bitter: three weeks after the podium finish in Sölden, he tore his cruciate ligament and was out for the rest of the season.

He will soon become a dad

Leitinger made his comeback in December 2022. In seven giant slaloms, he finished between 20 and 29 five times, was eliminated once and missed qualifying for the second run. He missed Adelboden BE due to pain in his operated knee.

The start of this winter did not go as planned. He was eliminated in Val d’Isère. And now he’s drawing a line in the sand. Despite the end of his sports career, he has reason to be happy. Leitinger and his wife Simone will become parents for the first time in March. (beer)

Source : Blick