Austrian Olympic and world ski jumping champion Wolfgang Loitzl announced Saturday his retirement from the sport.
Part of a high-flying Austrian team for over a decade, Loitzl -- who turns 35 next week -- won eight world championship titles, including one individual gold, during his career, and helped bring home Olympic team gold in Vancouver in 2010.
He also started Austria's record seven-time winning streak at the prestigious Four Hills tournament when he took the trophy in 2009.
Over the past year, however, the veteran jumper had struggled to make it into the top 10 in World Cup races. He was also left out of the Austrian team at the Winter Olympics in Sochi and failed to qualify for this year's Four Hills tournament.
Source: AFP