Hannes Trinkl, Austrian veteran and 2001 downhill world champion, retires on July 9th

Hannes Trinkl, Austrian veteran and 2001 downhill world champion, retires on July 9th{mosimage}Hannes Trinkl, one of the most experienced downhillers on the Austrian ski team, announced his retirement on July 9th. The 36-year-old skier, who won the downhill at the 2001 world championships in St. Anton, suffered from persistent knee problems.

Trinkl’s win at St. Anton came a week after American Daron Rahlves upset the Austrians on their own turf. Trinkl’s win restored Austrian pride. Ski Racingmagazine’s cover that week showed a picture of Trinkl being carried around the St. Anton finish area by his teammates. Under the photo were the words, “The Empire Strikes Back.”

Reuter’s newswires quoted the Austrian federation’s spokesman Josef Schmid explaining Trinkl’s decision. “He went to the doctor this week and found out he would need surgery,” said Schmid. “So he decided his health no longer allowed him to keep up with the best.”

Trinkl’s best results in the past season were fifth in the downhill at Chamonix and Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

His retirement follows that of his teammate Peter Rzehak. They along with Josef Strobl became somewhat marginalized within the Austrian team in recent years as Austrian coaches have favored four-event skiers in dispensing coveted World Cup start positions. Strobl recently announced that he is seeking Slovenian citizenship in his quest to race.

Trinkl won five World Cup downhills over his career (Bormio 1994, Aspen 1994, Lake Louise 2000, Bormio 2000, Kvitfjell 2002) and one super G (Lech 1994).

Trinkl was won of a few athletes skiing on Head skis. The company has paid fees to enter into the U.S. Ski Team’s ski pool, and may soon sign an agreement with a member of the team’s A Team.

One of the oldest athletes on the World Cup last season, Trinkl’s first World Cup was back in 1991, at Val d’Isere, when he finished 25th. The winner that day was American AJ Kitt.