Twelve-time alpine worlds medalist Aamodt retires

Norwegian star Kjetil Andre Aamodt, the leading Olympic and World Championships medalist in ski racing, announced his retirement Saturday.
    The 35-year-old Aamodt, fighting tears, revealed the news on national television while accepting a Norwegian award as the best male athlete of 2006. Later in the show he was give Norwegian sports' ''Name of the Year'' award.
    Aamodt hurt his knee in the downhill at the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, but went on to defend his Olympic title in the super G despite the injury.
    That victory boosted his Olympic medal count to eight, an all-time record. Aamodt also holds the record for World Championships medals at 12.

OSLO, Norway — Norwegian star Kjetil Andre Aamodt, the leading Olympic and World Championships medalist in ski racing, announced his retirement Saturday.
    The 35-year-old Aamodt, fighting tears, revealed the news on national television while accepting a Norwegian award as the best male athlete of 2006. Later in the show he was give Norwegian sports' ''Name of the Year'' award.
    Aamodt hurt his knee in the downhill at the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, but went on to defend his Olympic title in the super G despite the injury.
    That victory boosted his Olympic medal count to eight, an all-time record. Aamodt also holds the record for World Championships medals at 12.
    ''I have, in a way, been in the 'thinking box' after the Olympics, and concluded that I am neither in the physical or mental shape to continue,'' Aamodt said on the nationally televised awards show.
    ''In addition, I have a family to consider.''
    As recently as Dec. 23, when accepting another Norwegian sports award, Aamodt said he hoped to continue competing.
    In March, he underwent surgery to repair damaged cartilage in his knee.

—The Associated Press