'' Twenty years ago, the death of Ulrike Maier in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

It's been exactly twenty years since that January 29, 1994 in which Ulrike Maier died during the downhill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and the tragic fall on live TV is still in the eyes of all who witnessed it.

Wednesday 29 January 2014 3 minutes reading time

Before the curve to the left that led into the final part of Kreuzeck-Kandahar "Ulli" as he was known by all, gleaned with the right ski, fell and hit his head against a pile of snow on the track rather than against protections of the photocell of the intermediate, then established as the investigation open because of the complaint of the family members of the 26-year old Austrian skier against the organizers of the Bavarians. Because of this impact on the helmet is dropped by provoking the fracture of the cervical vertebrae and leaving it lifeless in the middle of the track, the desperate race to the hospital was useless. That day to arrive first with bib number 35 was Isolde Kostner, the first but also the most sad victory of his career. Born October 22, 1967 in Rauris, Salzburg's location, Ulrike won the World Cup of 1989 in Vail / Beaver Creek super-G in 1991 and was repeated in the same event in Saalbach, at the first triumph Ulli was two months pregnant Melanie, the girl who often wore it to the races. His first victory in the World Cup is November 28, 1992 in Park City giant, the last of 21 January 1994 in one of Maribor, eight days before his death. Cup collected 5/1 (2 in super-G and giant 3), 9/2 and 6 third places, as well as the two world championship gold medals can claim the silver medal in the giant always in Saalbach in 1991, was sixth in the Olympics instead Giant in Calgary in 1988 and fourth in giant slalom and fifth in super-G at Albertville in 1992. At the end of that season he would withdraw due to get married with her boyfriend Hubert Schweighofer, but unfortunately it all ended for her on that tragic day twenty years ago.

Max Valle

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