Cortina d’Ampezzo (dpa) – Long-time giant slalom dominator and two-time Olympic champion Ted Ligety is ending his career.
The 36-year-old American will contest the giant slalom as the last race at the World Ski Championships in Cortina d’Ampezzo, he said. “I’m super excited and super proud of what I’ve achieved,” he said.
Ligety was the outstanding athlete in giant slalom for several winters and in the core discipline, in addition to his Olympic victory in 2014, he also won combined gold at the 2006 winter games. He was also five times world champion: three times in giant slalom (2011, 2013, 2015) and 2013 in Schladming also in the combination and in the Super-G.
In the World Cup, the athlete from Park City (Utah) collected 25 victories. He won the small crystal ball five times as the best in the giant slalom discipline. The last win was in October 2015; Ligety has not made it onto a podium for three years.
“I gave everything to this sport and I am grateful for everything that ski racing has given me back. I love the sport and have had so much fun racing in the World Cup for the past 17 years. I’ve fulfilled every childhood dream with Olympic gold medals, World Cup gold medals and World Cup victories, but now it’s time to be with my family, ”Ligety wrote on Instagram next to a photo of his three sons.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210209-99-364444 / 2
