"It's not easy"
Unlucky skier Max Franz ends his career
Ski ace Max Franz is ending his career. The Carinthian announced this on Sunday.
The 37-year-old speed specialist had struggled with major problems in recent years due to severe leg injuries sustained in a training crash in November 2022. “Skiing was my life. It shaped me and gave me unforgettable moments. But my journey wasn’t just about successes—it also included many setbacks,” wrote the 2017 World Championship downhill bronze medalist on Instagram.
“I’ve fallen often, been injured often, and had to fight my way back time and again. In particular, the serious crash in Copper Mountain in 2022—which left me with two broken legs and required numerous surgeries—changed my life,” said the three-time World Cup winner from Weißbriach, referring to his difficult road to recovery.
“Many people thought my career was over back then. But I wanted to make it happen again. I fought hard, believed in myself, and after more than three years, I actually celebrated my comeback in Val Gardena. That moment will forever remain one of the most precious of my life.”
Ten World Cup Podium Finishes
The Salzburg resident—who has stood on the World Cup podium ten times—made a lasting return to racing; he was eliminated in his only race last December in Val Gardena, but that was the only time.
“I never gave up, even though the road was often rocky. But eventually, the moment comes when you have to realize that enough is enough,” explained Franz, who won in Val Gardena in 2016 and twice overseas in 2018, emphasizing: “This decision isn’t an easy one for me, but I look back on my career with great gratitude. I’ve been able to celebrate great successes, experience unforgettable moments, and, above all, learn what it means to never give up. Skiing has taught me to be patient, to show courage, and to get back up again and again, even after the most difficult times.”
In closing, Franz thanked his family, doctors, coaches, and physical therapists, his entire team, as well as his sponsors and fans. “You’ve accompanied me on my journey, supported me, and never let me down, even in the toughest times. Thank you for everything, skiing. Thank you for this journey. Thank you for being a part of it. Farewell, racing.”
This article has been automatically translated,
read the original article here.

Kronen Zeitung als bevorzugte Google-Quelle hinzufügen 








Willkommen in unserer Community! Eingehende Beiträge werden geprüft und anschließend veröffentlicht. Bitte achten Sie auf Einhaltung unserer Netiquette und AGB. Für ausführliche Diskussionen steht Ihnen ebenso das krone.at-Forum zur Verfügung. Hier können Sie das Community-Team via unserer Melde- und Abhilfestelle kontaktieren.
Hinweis in eigener Sache: Das krone.at-Forum präsentiert sich ab sofort in neuem Design! Wir freuen uns über konstruktives Feedback. Damit die Diskussionen in den Kommentarbereichen beim jeweiligen Thema bleiben, können Sie uns Rückmeldungen hier hinterlassen.
User-Beiträge geben nicht notwendigerweise die Meinung des Betreibers/der Redaktion bzw. von Krone Multimedia (KMM) wieder. In diesem Sinne distanziert sich die Redaktion/der Betreiber von den Inhalten in diesem Diskussionsforum. KMM behält sich insbesondere vor, gegen geltendes Recht verstoßende, den guten Sitten oder der Netiquette widersprechende bzw. dem Ansehen von KMM zuwiderlaufende Beiträge zu löschen, diesbezüglichen Schadenersatz gegenüber dem betreffenden User geltend zu machen, die Nutzer-Daten zu Zwecken der Rechtsverfolgung zu verwenden und strafrechtlich relevante Beiträge zur Anzeige zu bringen (siehe auch AGB). Hier können Sie das Community-Team via unserer Melde- und Abhilfestelle kontaktieren.