Austrian double Olympic ski champion Hermann Maier said today he will not compete in the Winter Olympics at Salt Lake City next month.
The 29-year-old, who won two Olympic crowns at the 1998 Games, returned to the slopes on December 20th after making a miraculous recovery from the injuries he suffered in a motorbike accident in August.
But he said he was not ready to compete at the Games, starting February 8th and immediately started looking forward to next season.
"It's a very painful decision. In September my goal was to get back into competition this season. I was thinking about that from my hospital bed, and especially when I got back into physical training on the exercise bike," Maier said.
His decision was a huge blow to the Austrian camp.
"A week ago Dr Arthur Trost examined his left leg and estimated that his recovery was going better than expected," said Peter Schrocksnagel, president of the Austrian Ski Federation (OSV).
"But because of problems with the nerves Maier wasn't able to train as he wished. His decision protects him for the future."
The three-time world champion, nicknamed the Herminator for his all-action fearless style, said his left leg was not sufficiently healed to warrant risking top competition and "still lacks power" for a shot at Olympic glory.
Today's announcement ends feverish speculation that Maier would still be able to compete at the Games. Maier's last chance of a pre-Olympic qualifying race would have been a February 3rd World Cup slalom at St Moritz.
AFP