Paralympian Gerd Schoenfelder Retires

After 20 years of Paralympic Sport, German six-time Paralympian Gerd Schoenfelder is retiring.

Schoenfelder was recently in Sestriere, Italy at the 2011 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Alpine Skiing World Championships, where he took gold in the Downhill and Super-G, silver in the Super Combined and Slalom, and bronze in the Giant Slalom.

Gerd Schoenfelder said: It was a perfect week for me and it was a good decision to come here again. I thought about it after the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, on whether or not I should come to Sestriere, and I remembered that I love this place and I love the slope here."

The World Championships in Sestriere were Schoenfelder’s final major competition.

Last year at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, Schoenfelder was the highlight for the strong team from Germany, winning four gold medals (Downhill, Giant Slalom, Super Combined, Super-G) and one silver medal in Slalom.

About his retirement, Schoenfelder said he was looking forward to the change in his life.

Gerd Schoenfelder said: “I will have more time for my family and new things in the future. As I have a trainer’s license, I would like to in this time work together with Paralympic Skiing teams – motivating others in the sport.

“I must also say thank you to all my fans, who have always stood behind me and successfully crossed their fingers on my behalf.”