Hermann Maier: The Race of My Life - Softcover

Hermann Maier; Knut Okresek; Lance Armstrong

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1931382832 ISBN 13: 9781931382830

Publisher: Velo Press, 2005

Synopsis

Hermann “The Herminator” Maier, born in 1972, rose from humble beginnings as a scrawny mason to the heights of sports stardom, skiing to four world championship titles and two gold medals, in super-G and giant slalom. All that changed in 2001, when a motorcycle accident threatened to end not only his career but his life. True to his reputation, Maier fought his way back to the slopes and further victories. This compelling autobiography tells a riveting story of flirting with death and dodging it through sheer willpower, of painful recoveries and worldwide triumphs. The dramatic text and many color and black-and-white photographs cover Maier’s highs and lows, including his appearance at the 1998 Olympic Games at Nagano, where he stunned millions in what has become the most notorious downhill crash of all time. This book profiles a man who is a superstar in every sense.

About this title

From the Publisher:

"A tale of mental toughness and recovery." —Vail Daily

"What is truly illuminating about the Herminator's story is that it's a warts-and-all tale. It's not like Maier always knew he'd make it back. It's not like he never got frustrated and behaved selfishly or rudely. Like any human who has his livelihood suddenly snatched away from him, Maier at times lashed out, threw things in anger and wanted to give up. And then he went back to work with the determination of a champion." —Dallas Morning News

"An open diary of Maier’s ski career... This book is a lesson in life." —SportsFeatures.com

From the Back Cover:

"BACK FROM THE DEAD." That’s what the ski world said when Hermann Maier returned triumphantly to the high mountains of the prestigious World Cup circuit. Austria’s larger-than-life hero had indeed made a Lazarus-like recovery from a crippling injury that most thought would end his career.

But Maier has always defied convention. In a country where skiers are selected at a young age for stardom, Maier had a late and unlikely debut. In a sport with strict rules, Maier set his own schedule. And in an athletic pursuit full of risk, Maier found his biggest challenge far from the slopes.

In 2001, Maier—Olympic gold medalist, multiple World Cup titleholder, and symbolic leader of Austria’s powerful ski squad—stood as a giant in the ski world. That summer, however, the "Herminator’s" championship reign came to a frightening halt in a near-fatal motorcycle accident. His right leg was shattered, and in the dark days that followed, doctors feared that Maier would never ski again.

Yet it was at this low point that Hermann Maier’s astonishing story truly begins. With the same tenacity that marked his aggressive skiing style, Maier fought back—first simply to walk, then to run, and then to ski. In the end, he not only found his way to the podium again, but seized another World Cup overall title in 2004, his fourth to date.

Hermann Maier: The Race of My Life is a shocking, gripping, and ultimately inspiring autobiography from one of sport’s most electric figures.

About this edition

• Publisher: Velo Press
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 1931382832
• ISBN 13: 9781931382830
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 320