Cross-country skiing: Hannes Dotzler ends his career

Cross-country skier Hannes Dotzler ends his career after a long time of suffering. This was announced by the German Ski Association (DSV) on Wednesday. The 27-year-old from SC Sonthofen could hardly compete in the last three years due to a persistent viral disease.

“The past three years have not been easy,”says the Allgäuer Dotzler,”there have always been good phases in which I was confident that I could make the connection. But I had to realize in the course of this summer that because of my illness I am simply no longer able to increase the training volumes and intensities as necessary for the level in the World Cup. Of course, it’s a step that’s not easy for me. Sport was and is my life.”

For a long time, Dotzler was considered one of the most promising talents in cross-country skiing. Between 2012 and 2014, he was one of the world’s top ten athletes and made it into the top 10 on several occasions. At the 2013 World Cup he shone as seventh in the 50 km race. At the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi in 2014, he finished twelfth in the skiathlon as the best German runner. In the spring of 2014, Dotzler fell ill with glandular fever.