Hermann Maier

Hermann Maier

— Alpine skier —
Hermann Maier, 2009
Disciplines	Downhill, Super-G, Giant slalom, Combined
Club	USC Flachau – Salzburg
Born	(1972-12-07) 7 December 1972 (age 44) Altenmarkt im Pongau, Salzburg, Austria
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
World Cup debut	10 February 1996 (age 23)
Retired	October 2009 (age 36)
Website	hm1.com
Olympics
Teams	2 – (1998, 2006)
Medals	4 (2 gold)
World Championships
Teams	6 – (1999–2009)
Medals	6 (3 gold)
World Cup
Seasons	12 – (1997–2009, no 2002)
Wins	54
Podiums	96
Overall titles	4 – (1998, 2000, 2001, 2004)
Discipline titles	10 – (2 DH, 5 SG, 3 GS)
Medal record Men's alpine skiing Representing  Austria Olympic Games 1998 Nagano Super-G 1998 Nagano Giant slalom 2006 Turin Super-G 2006 Turin Giant slalom World Championships 1999 Vail Downhill 1999 Vail Super-G 2005 Bormio Giant slalom 2001 St. Anton Downhill 2003 St. Moritz Super-G 2001 St. Anton Super-G

Hermann Maier (born 7 December 1972) is an Austrian former World Cup champion alpine ski racer and Olympic gold medalist. Nicknamed the "Herminator", Maier ranks among the greatest alpine ski racers in history, with four overall World Cup titles (1998, 2000, 2001, 2004), two Olympic gold medals (both in 1998), and three World Championship titles (1999: 2, and 2005). His 54 World Cup race victories – 24 super-G, 15 downhills, 14 giant slaloms, and 1 combined – rank second on the men's all-time list behind Ingemar Stenmark's 86 victories. As of 2013^[update], he holds the record for the most points in one season by a male alpine skier, from 2000–2013, he also held the title of most points in one season by any alpine skier, with 2000 points from the 2000 season.

Maier did not initially enjoy much success in ski racing. As a 15-year-old at the Schladming ski academy, he was sent home after being told he wouldn't succeed because of his slight build, caused by growth impairments. He returned home to his hometown of Flachau and his father's ski school, which remains Maier's home. He took up work as a bricklayer in the summer and a ski instructor in the winter.

Participating in local races, Maier became a multiple regional champion in Salzburg and Tyrol, but still was not able to gain a spot in the strong Austrian World Cup ski team. Putting that behind him, his outstanding talent was recognized for the first time by Austrian coaches on 6 January 1996, when he was timed with the 12th fastest time in a World Cup giant slalom in Flachau, although only starting as a forerunner, not participating in the actual competition. This would become the starting point of his international career.