Three-Time Olympic Champion Matthias Mayer Announces Retirement

Three-time Olympic champion Matthias Mayer announced his retirement from active ski racing live on TV this morning. The career of the 32-year-old from Carinthia was marked by three Olympic victories in the speed disciplines.

"I've been thinking for the last few days and I have to say it's time for me to retire from the Alpine World Cup" Matthias Mayer

The greatest successes inevitably include the three Olympic victories! Gold in Downhill in Sochi 2014, Gold in Super-G in Pyeonchang 2018 and Gold and Bronze in Super-G and Downhill in Beijing 2022!

“It was a tremendous season last year with my third Olympic gold medal and I started this year well and I'm happy. But it's enough. I would like to say a big thank you to my main sponsor UNIQA and the ÖSV, everyone did a great job, I'm excited to see how things will continue," said Matthias Mayer in the live interview with ORF.

Here are voices from Matthias Mayer's sporting colleagues:

"I was very surprised! He was fit and in good spirits yesterday after recovering from the flu and said he thinks he'll be able to drive tomorrow. We were all happy and the retirement is a brutal surprise for all of us, but it will be the right decision for him and we have to take it as it is He is one of the greatest, you have to be honest, a model athlete, one who led the group and was always there for the young athletes and it hurts a lot that we lose one like that!" Sepp Bruner

"It was also very surprising for me. There have actually been no signs of this step in the last few days - of course it is extremely unfortunate for us as a ski association that we are losing such an extra talent, but I wish him all the best for his future !What he has achieved, three times Olympic champion at three different Olympic Games, is just incredible and the team will certainly lose a leader because of that he leaves behind in the team." Marco Pfeifer

"A big player in alpine skiing has gone downhill. It was an inspiring time for UNIQA to be able to accompany Matthias on his way. We thank you for the great partnership, the many successes and positive moments. We wish him the same for the next phase of his life much success, just like on the race tracks.” Kurt Svoboda, Member of the Management Board of the UNIQA Insurance Group

Svoboda thanks Matthias Mayer for the great partnership and the great moments. “Matthias not only surprised us in many races, but also with the timing of his retirement, but that is his personal decision and it has to be respected. Matthias has left an indelible mark on skiing. His ability to go the extra mile at major events and deliver the best performance at the decisive moment was unique. He was an exceptional talent on the slopes, but not only a role model in terms of sport. With his humble and down-to-earth manner, he was popular with both his teammates and fans. We can only say thank you for the many magical moments he gave us. I wish him and his family all the best for the future and I hope that he will support skiing and the ÖSV with the distance that may be necessary.

"It almost knocked me out of my chair, I was completely surprised. Of course we have to accept his decision. The gap he leaves in the team is huge and will not be closed anytime soon. Matthias has done a lot for skiing in general and for the Austrian Ski Association, and I can only thank him for that. Herbert Mandl (Sports Director Alpine Skiing)

The successes of Matthias Mayer:

• Olympics (3-0-1): Gold Downhill 2014 Sochi, Super-G 2018 Pyeongchang and Super-G 2022 Beijing, Bronze Downhill 2022 Beijing, 6th Giant Slalom 2014, 9th Downhill 2018
• WM: 4th Super-G 2015 Vail/Beaver Creek, 5th Super-G 2013 Schladming and Downhill 2019 Aare, 6th Super-G 2021 Cortina
• World Cup: 11 wins (7 downhill, 3 super-G, 1 combined), fourth overall in 2019/20 and 2021/22, second in the 2020/21 downhill World Cup