Germany's Hannes Dotzler retires

Press release

DSV-News / Cross-country skiing: Cross-country skier Hannes Dotzler announces his resignation

(planegg / dsv) Hannes Dotzler has ended his active career as a cross-country skier. The 27-year-old from SC Sonthofen has hardly been able to compete in the past three years. Reason was a protracted viral disease, which forced him again and again to take longer training and competition breaks.

"The past three years have not been easy," says Dotzler. "There were always good times when I was confident I could make it back, but during the summer I had to realize that because of my illness, I simply can not crank up the training volumes and intensities required.  So it was a step that is not easy for me Sport was and is my life. But I am grateful for the many great experiences and support which I was allowed to do in the past years."

For a long time, Dotzler was considered one of the greatest and most hopeful talents in international cross-country skiing. Between 2012 and 2014 he competed world's best and ran several times in the top-10. In the winter of 2013/14, the then 24-year-old was in Lenzerheide, Switzerland for the first time in his career in a World Cup individual race on the podium. Also at the Nordic World Championships 2013 in the Italian Val di Fiemme and at the Olympic Games in Sochi Hannes Dotzler belonged to the top ten cross-country skiers in the world.

In the spring of 2014 Dotzler then fell ill with glandular fever. Three years later, in January 2017, he gave his World Cup comeback in Falun, Sweden. But after only two races on World Cup Dotzler had to step down again. The great desire to return permanently to the old power, was unfortunately no longer fulfilled.

"Hannes was an absolute role model both on and off the competition track," says Andreas Schlütter, sports director for cross-country skiing in the DSV. "Especially in the past three years, he has never given up and was always fair, optimistic and determined despite all the setbacks. We all had hoped that this resilience would one day be rewarded.  However, we are happy that Hannes is doing well in his health that he has no health restrictions in normal everyday life, apart from top-level sport. "