Aksel Lund Image (36) has decided, writes NRK. They are citing the website of The austrian olympic committee, where the Image in an interview said that the world cup in Åre will be his last race. Later confirms the Image this even from harmless.
I have enough though it gradually this week. The season has not gone entirely as planned, there is even a sign that it is time to round off. One thing was to think of it, anything else is to actually say it. It feels a bit surreal, ” says Image to NRK.
Image has for a long time struggled with injuries. The last couple of years, it is a knee injury which has made it challenging for the Image. But he has trained back and performed each and every time.
Aksel Lund Image is one of the best Norwegian alpine skiers. He has a total of four OLYMPIC medals, two of them in the highest denomination. He was historic as the first Norwegian that has taken the OLYMPIC gold medal in downhill during the OLYMPIC games in Pyeongchang in the year.
Surreal
Image is over the weekend of flows in the austrian Kitzbühel. Today running teammates the super-G. It was long uncertain whether the Image of it all would run this season.
He bedyrer opposite NRK that the fall in just the Kitzbühel three years ago, when he broke korsbåndet, not a direct cause of that he adds up. But the Image has struggled with the knee since that time, and does not hide that it is one of the reasons.
– Ugly knee injuries are probably the worst for an alpinist. It is a joint that gets a lot of ass. It has been tenacious, and the knee really works the best for quiet summer days, not to be among the best in the world in alpine skiing, ” says Image.
He continues:
– to make the decision and call in to the press conference, I didn’t orka. I just had to say it. Now there is no way back. It is strange, but also the luxury to be able to choose for themselves. I feel satisfied that this is the last winter and this being the last year, ” says Image
Historical
the Image also has five world CHAMPIONSHIP gold medals and 36 victories in the world cup. The last came before christmas in the Italian Val Gardena. He also has two totalseire in the world cup.
– A fantastic career, sums up the Finn Aamodt. He is a former coach in alpine skiing, and has for many years been associated with the olympia top. He is also the father of another alpinlegende, Kjetil André Aamodt.
Axle is a monument in the Norwegian alpinsport. After Kjetil André Aamodt and Lasse Kjus gave up, he kept it up for many years completely alone. He has amazing results. He took his first world cup gold in the Vessel – and that is probably why he will back there, I think, ” says Aamodt to Dagbladet.
For him, it is not unexpected that Aksel Lund Image now has decided that enough is enough.
He has struggled for many years with injuries. He has treated it very professionally and therefore managed to stay on their feet. Sad when stuff like that happens, but something needs to happen. He has a life afterwards, also, that he can’t destroy, ” says Aamodt.
– The most
As described above, the Image therefore had several serious injuries throughout his career. But he has come back seemingly stronger than ever, and asserted itself in the absolute world, immediately.
– He has the most konkurransehodet of some Norwegian athletes ever. It is huge. In addition, he is so careful with what he’s doing, he knows exactly what it takes to win skirenn. Several have come back strong after the injury, but it is unique with the Shaft, is that he has done it so very many times, ” says Aamodt.
It is easy to compare Image with the Aamodts son Sam, who is one of them who has won the most mesteskapsmedaljer in alpinverdenen. He has four OLYMPIC gold medals and five world CHAMPIONSHIP gold medals. But Aamodt ranks the Image above.
– the Shaft has several verdenscupseire. He doesn’t have as many medals in mesteskap, but he is approaching with verdenscupseirene and seierne in totalcupen. It is better than what He did, ” says Aamodt.
Stands over flows
Image is over the weekend of flows in the austrian Kitzbühel. Today running teammates the super-G. It was long uncertain whether the Image of it all would run this season.
For just a couple of days ago had Image a knesjekk, and 36-year-old admitted that it is not so very good.
– It is not a crisis, but yes, it does not look very good. It is not something new, it is the same old, said Image to NTB after sykehusbesøket.
the world CHAMPIONSHIP in Åre starts with the Super-G 6. February. Utforen go 11. February.
Dagbladet has been in contact with the Norwegian ski federation, which do not have any comment beyond what is said.
Image is an optimist, but this is absolutely essential
