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The news was nell''aria long, too many absences in recent gathering in the summer it was a clear signal behavior too weird for someone like him used to prepare with painstaking care each season. Yet recent interview at the end of the reception at the Quirinal, still left unchanged the hope of his many fans to be able to enjoy time on the ice un''ultima friend of Sigulda, its track. Instead quest''oggi Armin Zöggeler during a long press conference he announced his farewell to the sledge.
Tuesday 14 October 2014 9 minutes reading time
It closes cos & igrave ;, a career pi & ugrave; bright dell''intera history of Italian sports and winter sports in general, which began in 1990 with the conquest was only sixteen of the Junior World Cup. Ma & egrave; within the senior Armin Zöggeler created his legend. Since its debut nell''inverno 1992-1993, the officer had made it clear to Foiana to be predestined. Just eighteen years old Armin Sigulda salt for the first time on the podium, establishing a special feeling with this track that the porter & agrave; to achieve 10 victories.
Two seasons pi & ugrave; Later in Oberhof, Zöggeler wins his first victory in the World Cup. E '' only the first of a series of 57 successes that make Armin pi & ugrave; titrated Italian athlete in the history of the Winter Olympic sport. The same year is the season of the consecration of the champions of South Tyrol, which in Lillehammer became Champion of the World.
Nell''inverno 1997-1998 thanks to 3 wins and 2 third places out of 6 races, Armin Zöggeler crease competition from arch-rivals Markus Prock and Georg Hackl, and lifts the first of the ten World Cup career. From this moment onwards the 'athlete of the Val d'' Last becomes a real steamroller, conquering everything we can to win, highlighting a superiority & agrave; overwhelming especially in terms of driving, brushing perfect lines that will become forever his trademark. E '' precisely in this period that Armin is given the nickname "Cannibal".
The victories in the World Cup there, cos & igrave; as the world titles, but to be a true "Cannibal" Armin must step onto pi & ugrave; top of the podium at the Olympics, the 'sporting event which celebrates the great champions. A Salt Lake City 2002, Zöggeler occurs at the start of the Olympic race with two medals around his neck at Five Rings, bronze in 1994 and the 'silver in 1998, but especially with all the pressure in the Italian press that he is expect a medal from the metal pi & ugrave; fine. Zöggeler does not disappoint and gives you great champion his first Olympic gold.
Four years & ugrave; Later, Armin & egrave; all''impresa called again, this time it is to be a prophet in his homeland as it vies for the Turin Olympics on the new system Cesana track that immediately suited to its characteristics. Also on this occasion the determination and desire to win Zöggeler exceed the 'enormous media pressure that & egrave; created against him. The "Cannibal" conquest cos & igrave; the second consecutive Olympic gold equaling Georg Hackl.
In the five seasons following the luger South Tyrol continues to have no rivals in the World Cup, though, especially in basins where it counts most pushing begins to make its way a young son of 'art: Felix Loch. Just quest''ultimo, considered by pi & ugrave; experts as the 'heir of Zöggeler, during the Olympic Games in Vancouver 2010 will play & agrave; a "bad joke" to Armin. On the track in Whistler, shortened as a result dell''incidente deadly during the tests & egrave; cost the life of Georgian Nodar Kumaritashvili, the "Cannibal" can not make a difference, even after three rounds & egrave; even at the risk coin. But Armin not to be won and struggling with a knife between his teeth manages to climb on the third step of the podium.
Nell''ultimo four years, Armin has time to raise his tenth and last Crystal Ball equaling cos & igrave; the record held dall''austriaco Markus Prock, before finally leaving the field open to German Felix Loch, who dominated the last three seasons. In this period Zöggeler for the first time in his career accusation serious problems of materials which limit the performance, even if still manages to win in Lake Placid.
Last year, in what is in fact & egrave; was his last season, Armin & egrave; managed to find the right set-up of the Winterberg bobsleigh taking a much sought podium number 100 But the rewards for the South Tyrolean champion did not stop and a few weeks more & ugrave; Later on gut Park City, Zöggeler claimed all his experience dominating the competition like in the times of 'gold. In addition, in late January just in time mentioned Sigulda, the policeman took Foiana that will stay & agrave; history as its fifty-seventh and final victory in the World Cup.
With this newfound competitiveness & agrave; and with the privilege of being named flag-bearer for the Italian team at the opening ceremony, Armin Zöggeler you & egrave; presented at the starting gate of the track in Sochi to deal with his sixth Olympics but especially his last race of his career. The difficult weather conditions and the fearsome Russian sleighs made by the former Italian coach Walter Plaikner could be a major pitfall for a champion of the caliber of Zöggeler. Instead, the "Cannibal" again & egrave; to roar back by winning the Olympic bronze medalist and entering of law in the history of the sport as never before an athlete was able to win six Olympic medals in six consecutive editions.
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