Hermann Maier: The Race of My Life

by Hermann Maier, Knut Okresek, Lance Armstrong

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 champion 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 biography, which includes insightful text selections by Maier himself, 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 best-selling biography profiles a man who is a superstar in every sense.

Genres: Memoir, Sports, Biography

307 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable book from my favorite skier of all time. This is the ultimate comeback story; from a near-death experience all the way back to professional athletics.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted this book by my doctor after I was badly injured in a vehicle accident. I was in the hospital for almost 5 months and pretty broken. My doctor was an avid skier and thought Hermann Maier's story would help inspire me to work hard to get back to my life. I read most of it, and while I found it inspiring, I was in a bad headspace. I decided to read it fully and fell I am finally able to really appreciate why this was given to me.

It's a great story, even if you aren't working to unbreak yourself...

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely interesting but I guess only for those who really care :D An inspiring story but that's kind of it?

[Edward H. Busse, III · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hermann Maier owned the FIS World Cup for the better part of the 90's and early 00's. You feel his pain and anguish after his motorcycle accident. This guy is a freak of nature - the Hermannator as he's known in Austria.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book for obvious reasons.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a comeback! Worth reading just to hear how he fough to comebakc to ski racing after a bike accident that nearly killed him!