Posted at 6:21 a.m., Thursday, April 19, 2007
Kostelic, four-time Olympic skiing gold winner, retires
Associated Press
ZAGREB, Croatia — Four-time Olympic gold medalist Janica Kostelic retired from skiing today, saying she is enjoying life off the slopes more than winning medals.Kostelic became the most successful female skier in Olympic history when she won gold and silver at the 2004 Turin Games, adding to her three golds and one silver from Salt Lake City in 2002.
The 25-year-old Croat took the last World Cup season off because of chronic back and knee injuries.
"The time has come to end my professional sporting career," Kostelic said. "I'm just a normal girl who doesn't like to read about herself in the headlines."
Kostelic, who has had 10 knee operations and thyroid surgery, won her third overall World Cup title two years ago. A five-time world champion, Kostelic has won 30 World Cup races and posted victories in all five disciplines in the 2005-06 season.
Although Kostelic said she's unlikely to return to professional skiing, many fans hoped she would change her mind. Kostelic said she wants to spend more time with her boyfriend and at the beauty salon she just opened.
"Maybe bugs pop into my head one day and disrupt my peace until I return," Kostelic said. "But I doubt it."
