Markus Schairer, the Austrian snowboard athlete who broke his neck at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics has announced his retirement from the sport.
"The three-month post-operative healing process went very well, but with the increase in training load I realized that regeneration takes much longer than before the fall. So although I find it extremely difficult, I have to accept that time has come to end my career, "said Schairer.
When he was competing in the quarter-finals of snowboard cross at PyeongChang 2018, Schairer lost control and touched the ground with his back, which led to his fifth cervical vertebra in his neck breaking.
Markus Schairer reacts on the podium after the men's snowboard cross final run as part of the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup season opening, in Schruns Montafon on December 7, 2013. /VCG Photo
The 30-year-old Austrian athlete still managed to finish the race before the Austrian Olympic Committee made it clear that there was no sign of neurological impairment in Schairer. One day later, he even posted a photo of himself on Instagram to assure his fans that he was fine.
Though Schairer worked extremely hard during his recovery back in Austria and once put himself back into his boots, but it was too difficult for him to do any risky moves. In the end, he had to say goodbye to his career as a snowboarder.
"Looking back at my career, I'm very proud of what I've achieved. I've won two World Championships medals and the World Cup overall title, and took my most emotional victory with a home win at Montafon in December 2013. When I attended the awards ceremony with 5,000 cheering fans and the music concert setting, I still get shivers today," said Schairer.
Markus Schairer celebrates winning first place during the Men's Boardercross event at the Snowboard FIS World Championships on January 19, 2009 in Gangwon, South Korea. /VCG Photo
Having competed at three Winter Olympics in his decade-long career, Schairer has not won any medal but he won one world champion and came in second in the snowboard cross event at the 2007 Junior World Championships and at the 2008 Winter X Games XII.
Christian Galler, the sports director for the Austrian Ski Federation praised Schairer as "an important role model for our younger riders". "I wish him all the best in the future, and I would be happy if he could remain involved with Austrian snowboard cross as a coach or adviser," said Galler.