It was after inspecting the course ahead of Thursday's Super-G that three-time Olympic champion Matthias Mayer unexpectedly announced his retirement with immediate effect.

- I've been thinking a bit in recent days and it's time for me to end my alpine career.

That's enough for me.

I don't have the spark anymore.

It was a brilliant season last year with my third gold medal.

I've started the year well, I'm happy but that's enough now, he says with tears in his eyes to ORF.

The 32-year-old has been competing in the World Cup since 2009 and has won four medals in the Olympics, three of which are gold.

In the World Cup, the Austrian skater has taken seven podium places.

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See Sara Hector in Alpine-Sorslalom from Semmering.