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KITZBUEHEL,
Austria (AP) _ Austrian ski star Hermann Maier capped an incredible
comeback from devastating injury with a victory in a men's World Cup
super-G on Monday.
Maier, who nearly lost a leg in a motorcycle accident in August
2001, cried in the finish area after reigning World Cup overall,
downhill, super-G champion Stephan Eberharter finished behind him,
knowing he had finally reached the end of a long, grueling journey.
Maier, nicknamed "The Herminator" for his dominating presence and
indestructible nature, sliced through the heavy snowfalls shrouding
the Streifalm course in 1 minute, 20.48 seconds, leading an Austrian
sweep of the top five places.
"I don't know what to say," said Maier, his lips trembling, his eyes
filled with tears. "I never thought I would win again so quickly.
I'm over the moon. I am totally moved. "It's one of my best
victories. It's definitely on par with the Olympics and world
championships." Christoph Gruber was runnerup in 1:20.59, while
Eberharter ended up third in 1:20.63. "I was hoping I could win
today, but I certainly wasn't expecting it," Maier said. Maier, a
two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time overall World Cup
champion, once reigned supreme over the ski scene, but saw his
career jeopardized after a horrific motorcycle crash in August 2001
that nearly cost him a leg. The powerful Austrian is renowned for
his resilience. Maier crashed spectacularly in the downhill at the
1998 Nagano Olympics, only to get back up and win two gold medals in
the next few days. Maier only returned to competition two weeks ago
in a giant slalom in Adelboden, Switzerland. Before that, he had not
competed since his accident. His last victory was a giant slalom on
March 10, 2001, in Are, Sweden.
He was expected to make a comeback in October but re-injured his leg
last August in Chile while gate skiing for the first time since the
crash. He then took a two-month break in November and December to
take helicopter flying lessons. |
