Austrian skiing legend Hermann Maier will be honored by Austria Post on 25th September when they release a new 55c stamp featuring the record breaking sportsman.
Born in Altenmarkt on December 7, 1972, Maier was introduced to the world of competitive skiing by his father who ran a skiing school in Flachau. He remained relatively unknown until he made his debut at the giant slalom at Hinterstoder in 1997, but it was at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics that he really made his name.
Having suffered an horrific accident which earned him the nickname "The Herminator", Maier returned to the slope just three days later and captured the gold in the Super G, followed by Gold in the Giant Slalom. Victory in the overall World Cup later that same year capped a remarkable series of achievements for the Austrian.
Maier’s domination continued for the next three years, however he suffered major injuries in 2001 when a car crashed in to him whilst he was riding his bike. Maier was lucky not to lose a leg and fears were that his short but glittering career had come to a premature end. However, he returned in January 2003 ("Merely skiing here is a victory for me", said Maier at the time) and amazingly, won the overall World Cup in 2004.
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