Matthias Mayer announces comeback as a forerunner in Saalbach!

Matthias Mayer announces comeback as a forerunner in Saalbach!

Matthias Mayer, the three-time Olympic champion, returns to the slopes! On Wednesday he made his comeback as a forerunner at the women's European Cup downhill in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee. The 34-year-old was in excellent shape, as his colleague Otmar Striedinger reported to the “Krone”. The last training sessions in Saalbach left a lasting impression. “He hasn’t forgotten anything in the last two years,” enthused Striedinger. The intensive training effort over the last few months has helped Mayer get back to his best, and the plan is currently for him to start as a forerunner at the upcoming World Championships in Saalbach nachrichten.at reported.

A test run in Saalbach

Although Matthias Mayer is coming back to the snow, he emphasizes that he does not want to decide on a comeback. “This is a big decision,” he said. For Mayer, the focus is on the experience and not the competition - "I'm not a competitive runner, my opponent is the mountain." He has intensified training in recent weeks, particularly with a focus on Super-G in January. It remains to be seen whether he will ultimately dare to take the step back into racing. Mayer sees his project in Saalbach as an opportunity to check whether he can be the athlete he once was, but without making a firm decision.

Mayer's return is particularly notable since he unexpectedly announced his retirement from professional racing in 2022. Since then he has worked in an advisory role for the ÖSV speed team. His unexpected resignation came after a series of health problems that eventually led to a publication by the association. Now, with the anticipation of the World Championships, this could be the first step in his possible return to old strength, like laola1.at reported. In any case, the sports scene is excited to see whether the Carinthian will take a big step into a new phase of his career.