Gregor Schlierenzauer announces his retirement

Over the past couple of months, it was quiet around Gregor Schlierenzauer, the 53-time World Cup winner. Now the 31-year-old announced his decision to retire in a post on his blog.

"The recent months were challenging for me, in a positive way. Due to the injury, I had enough time and the necessary distance to deal with the past and assess where I stand. After everything I have experienced as an elite athlete, it was not easy for me to end my career, but the decision and the point in time feels right", the Austrian writes in his blog.

The career of the Tyrolean is almost unprecedented in Ski Jumping: Record World Cup winner (53 individual wins, 17 team wins), 2 x overall World Cup champion (2008/09, 2012/13), 2 x 4-Hills-Tournament winner (2011/12, 2012/13). At the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, Schlierenzauer won two bronze medals on the large and normal hill, and gold with the Austrian team. Four years later in Sochi he took another silver medal with the team. At Nordic World Championships and Ski Flying World Championships, Schlierenzauer won a total of 17 medals, 10 of which in gold. Schlierenzauer is not only the most successful ski jumper in World Cup history, but he also inspired an entire generation of young athletes.

After his last World Cup win on December 6th, 2014 in Lillehammer (NOR), Schlierenzauer was not able to follow up on his previous success. It was a difficult time for the back then 24-year-old, a time during which he proved his sportsmanship, his love for Ski Jumping, his perseverance, and his resistance over and over again.

Gregor Schlierenzauer writes in his blog on Tuesday: "I really appreciate the support of my coaches and partners, who literally gave me wings. They shaped, motivated and they had my back, but they never tried to change me. I also want to thank  the Austrian Ski Association, the Olympic training center in Tyrol, the coaches, doctors, my teammates, and the many inspiring people I have met on and off the hills."

The last season ended early, shortly before the Nordic World Championships in Oberstdorf (GER) for Schlierenzauer due to a knee injury. He informed officials about his decision earlier this week and bid farewell to long-time partners.

Mario Stecher, sports director for nordic sports in the Austrian Ski Association: "Gregor achieved a lot in Ski Jumping. His outstanding career is full of superlatives. Basically, he achieved everything he could achieve, he won almost everything there is to win and it's also because of him, that the sport is where it is today. Over many years he enthused thousands of fans and was an idol for the youngsters. The Austrian Ski Association wishes him that he can now enjoy his private life and find the necessary calm after competitive sports."