Munich - Maria Riesch of Germany has the class to rule women's alpine skiing, the nation's most famous skier, Rosi Mittermaier, said in an interview published on Tuesday. "I believe that Maria can dominate skiing for years," Mittermaier told Munich's Abendzeitung daily.
"Maria is a phenomenon and a stroke of luck, a unique personality. Nothing affects a Maria Riesch. I have known her for years, since her kindergarden days. She has always had extraordinary mental strength."
Mittermaier, 58, won two Olympic golds and a silver at the 1976 Olympics and the World Cup title the same year.
Riesch is the latest German women's team star who made front-page headlines across the nation on Monday after winning a fourth straight slalom race on Sunday to match Mittermaier's 10 race wins overall.
She leads the World Cup and could become Germany's third winner of the trophy, following Mittermaier and Katja Seizinger (1998).
"Maria is much calmer. She has a bigger determination to win than I ever had," said Mittermaier.
