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Austrian two-time Olympic ski champion Benjamin Raich announces retirement

Xinhua, September 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

Austrian two-time Olympic gold medalist Benjamin Raich has announced his retirement at an emotional press conference on Thursday.

Raich, 37, said despite maintaining his fitness over the summer, a lack of motivation was the primary reason behind his decision, saying "when I think about skiing, I no longer have the feeling of being able to give one hundred percent."

His wife, fellow retired skier Marlies Schild whom he married in April, is expecting their first child, though Raich said this was not the main reason for his retirement.

The former star said he was "content and grateful" for what he had achieved, and acknowledged skiing had "given me a lot."

Up to his retirement he had been Austria's most successful active skiier, winning 36 World Cup races, along with 14 medals at Winter Olympics and World Championships.

His two Olympic gold medals both came at the 2006 Olympics in Turin, coming first in both the slalom and giant slalom events. He also won the World Cup in 2006, finished runner-up five times, and won the World Championship three times. Endit