Fritz Dopfer announces retirement

By Published On: March 17th, 2020Comments Off on Fritz Dopfer announces retirement

Germany’s Fritz Dopfer has chosen to end his ski racing career after the 2019/20 season. The 32-year-old giant slalom and slalom specialist ends his career with nine World Cup podiums, one World Championship medal, and four Olympic starts.

Throughout Dopfer’s career, he has come close to a win on multiple occasions. Yet since fracturing his left tibia and fibula in November of 2016, Dopfer has been unable to make the recovery he was hoping for. Physical issues continued to drag on, and by the end of the January 2020 slalom push, Dopfer felt it was no longer possible to continue.

“I wanted to be in the top 30 again this year in giant slalom or slalom – I didn’t achieve that goal,” he told a Tryolen newspaper. “The way I missed it made me think. Then came the problems with the adductors, the back, the patella tendon – it all added up.”

“The time has come to stop and devote myself to new tasks,” he added. “I fought very often and very hard to be able to race again after my injuries. In the past few months, however, it has become clear to me that my body no longer allows me to participate in the sport of the ultimate consequence. “

Unfortunately, Dopfer was unable to ski one last race in Kranjska Gora as planned. His last race of the season was the Chamonix slalom, where he did not qualify for a second run. His career may not have ended the way he had planned, yet Dopfer says he wishes to somehow keep the sport that has been his heart and soul a part of his life.

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About the Author: Mackenzie Moran

Born and raised in Metro-Detroit, Michigan, Mackenzie grew up ski racing all over the Mitten.​ She moved out west in search of mountains and attended the University of Oregon, where she achieved degrees in Journalism and Environmental Science. She raced USCSA and was captain of the UO Alpine Ski Team.