On the career end of Felix Neureuther: "An impressively fine guy"

Down at the finish, after the last second round of his sports career, they were already waiting. Julien Lizeroux about, Stefano Groß, Manuel Feller. Competitors in the World Cup, but especially companions and friends. Felix Neureuther hugged each one. A heartfelt farewell to his colleagues, with seventh place at the slalom in Andorra the best result of the season this season, a worthy conclusion of a great career.

It was foreseeable that Neureuther would announce his resignation from skiing the day before. He has realized that it makes no sense to torture himself and his damaged body even longer.

Of course, the ski circuit, the entire sport loses a great personality. A racer who matured from a mischievous rascal to a role model athlete in his 16 years career - and who quickly managed to emancipate himself from his parents' famous name.

Heimlich football player

"The son of Rosi Mittermaier and Christian Neureuther" - this addition was heard at the beginning always, when the young Felix went to the start. At home, the successful career of the parents was not an issue; that the Rosi was 1976 double Olympic champion, learned the little Felix only when leafing through an illustrated book of the Winter Games in Innsbruck. "Mom," he exclaimed, "that's you."

"If the Felix is ​​a successful skier, that is wonderful, but much more important next year is the Abitur," said Father Christian, as the then-18-year-old Felix in St. Moritz in 2003 to his first World Cup competition: "Skiing is a nice moment in life, but a short one, and therefore not the most important. "

This short moment lasted at least 16 years.

And Felix took the sport for a long time carefree. Dedicated, but without final consequence. It was fitting that he played until 2006 at FC Garmisch - because of the injury driving prohibited - football. But because he had good relations in the editorial department of the "Garmischer Tagblatt", there was always another name on the team lineup in the newspaper every Monday.

Call from the dad

On a sunny autumn day in 2013, high on the ski jump in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Neureuther recalled the turning point of his career. The moment in December 2009, when he retired after a 25th place as the best result of the season in the slalom of Alta Badia in the first round.

"Dad called me in the finish area and said I could go on like this, but then I can let skiing be the same," he said. "If I want to break something, then I have to change my attitude, and Papa's speech was a defining moment in my life." Five weeks later, Felix Neureuther scored his first World Cup victory in the slalom of Kitzbühel, shortly thereafter he triumphed at the home race in Garmisch.

It was followed by eleven more World Cup successes, three World Cup medals and repeatedly setbacks. The botched home World Cup 2011 in Garmisch or the car accident just before the 2014 Olympics when he rushed to the departure for Sochi on the A95 in the guardrail, suffered a whiplash, flew to Russia, in slalom and giant slalom but without a medal remained ,

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Whatever his career was in ups and downs, his character remained straightforward. Unlike many other elite athletes who take refuge behind monologues, out of concern for fending off bandages, coaches, or sponsors, Neureuther always said what he thought. Showed attitude, especially when it came to his criticism of the IOC, be it in the greed for profit, the sale of the sport or dealing with Russian state doping.

Neureuther will be missing. Even the comrades, many of whom became close friends. For example, Ted Ligety, whom he took home after a race in Garmisch. Mama Rosi cooked the guest from America, washed his clothes and even ironed his underpants. And of course Marcel Hirscher, the Austrian serial winner, who called Neureuther "my big brother". And now farewell in Andorra about him said: "An impressively fine guy."

Neureuther himself said on Sunday: "It was just right for me, I rode a good race again, I'm just looking forward to the time at home, even if the boys will miss me a lot. are the tight ski boots and the travel, I'm really happy now. "

The last # ZDF winter sports day comes to an end. ❄️ We say goodbye to the scene of the day and close to Felix Neureuthers words: "We do not say" servus ", but see you soon!" Pic.twitter.com/cbgtC64Xvz

Whether and how Neureuther will remain in the sport of skiing remains open at first. In any case, now is time for the important things in life, for his wife Miriam, for his 17-month-old daughter Matilda. In just over a week he will be 35, maybe he'll make his comeback soon in football, with the old men of FC Garmisch. At the "Garmischer Tagblatt" they are now allowed to call back their real name in the team lineup.