Vienna - Austrian skiing icon Hermann Maier said Tuesday that he would retire immediately, ending his career as one of the sports most successful athletes. The visibly moved 36-year-old racer made his announcement in Vienna one week after he had started training for the World Cup season.
Maier said he had made his decision after seeing last week that he could end his career in good physical condition.
"I knew I am healthy - and that's how I want to continue living," he said.
"This is very, very emotional," said Maier, known as the "Herminator" in his native country and ski fans.
Maier won two Olympic golds, three world titles, four overall World Cup wins and 54 race wins.
In the history of alpine skiing, only Sweden's Ingemar Stenmark was more successful in the World Cup.
Maier rose to international fame at the Nagano winter Olymics in 1998, when he survived a major crash almost unhurt and went on to win two gold medals in super-g and giant slalom.
He made a spectacular comeback after a serious motorcycle accident in 2001, but the long-term effects of his injuries hampered him in recent seasons.
