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Maria Höfl-Riesch Revisits 2014 Crash That Ended Her Career in New Podcast

She recounts an instant decision in the safety net, citing unusually warm Lenzerheide snow.

Overview

  • Speaking on SPORT1’s Deep Dive, the three-time Olympic champion says the March 12, 2014 downhill crash in Lenzerheide ended her season and, in her mind, her career.
  • She was airlifted to hospital and saw the downhill standings ceremony below, with the top podium place left empty as the helicopter flew past.
  • Höfl-Riesch says high late‑March temperatures left the snow too warm and contributed to how the day unfolded.
  • Despite missing the final races, she still won the downhill World Cup title and announced her retirement on March 20, 2014 at age 29.
  • She reflects on wishing for a different farewell and notes her current work outside the sport, including as an investor with Viktoria Berlin.