Maria Riesch wins again after major setbacks

By Andrew James Dec 2, 2006, 12:46 GMT

Lake Louise, Canada - Maria Riesch has seen so many ups and downs in her career - and she only just turned 22.

A stunning downhill World Cup victory on Friday in Lake Louise came in her fourth race since returning from a severe knee injury.

It was in fact two major setbacks, as the ruptured cruciate ligament in her left knee on December 10, 2005, came almost exactly 11 months after she suffered the same injury in her right knee on January 10, 2005.

'This is stunning, no one could expect it. It's beyond our expectations,' said alpine director Wolfgang Maier from the German ski federation.

Riesch, who turned 22 on November 24, said: 'I always thought I could race again, but I wondered if I would be fast again and if I would ski without being scared.'

Riesch was considered a serious challenger for the overall World Cup and for world championship titles in the 2005 season after she achieved her breakthrough late in the previous campaign.

Riesch won her first three World Cup events in January and February 2004. Three further podium finishes underlined her strength as she finished third overall in the World Cup.

Her all-round skills were underlined as her wins came in a downhill, a super-g and a slalom.

But instead of challenging for titles and becoming Germany's latest ski heroince after the retirement of Katja Seizinger, Riesch experienced the danger of the sport over the next two seasons.

Things went wrong from the start in late 2005 as she was sidelined with a shoulder injury for two months. Nine races later she suffered her first knee injury when she crashed in a super-G in Cortina d'Ampezzo.

The comeback (she also broke her wrist in summer) in late 2005 en route to the Turin Olympics lasted a mere six races, the other knee being damaged in a fall during a giant slalom in Aspen.

Some athletes may have thrown in the towel after two setbacks of this magnitude, but Riesch refused to bow, underwent another two operations and worked hard for another comeback.

'I never thought of quitting.

'Of course this latest injury is tragic, especially because it denies me again from competing at a major event. But I am just 21 years old, a dedicated ski racer and I will do everything to attack again next season,' she vowed after the Aspen crash.

Rehabilitation went well and Riesch was back in full training after a spring holiday in Mexico.

Friday's win in just the fourth season race came totally expected, but Riesch said that things have been going well in training, which gave her confidence for the race.

'In training I have been feeling my way on the speed, but today everything was much better,' said Riesch.