AFP: How do you feel the day after the announcement of your retirement?
Ted Ligety
: It's a mixture of emotions.
I feel a weight less, it will be my last race, it makes me even more sure of my decision, which was difficult to take.
But my last giant will not be a jubilee.
I'm going there to try to win.
I think I can be a contender, I just hope I can have a good last race.
How has skiing changed over the past 18 years and the start of your career?
Each year the skiing has improved, there have always been developments in the equipment, the preparation for the races, which made things interesting.
But the skiing has remained the same, I always had the same thrills in the starting gate as for my first World Cup at 19. "
Are you enjoying giant races today?
Today, and it's very personal, I don't like the giant, because the track preparations are too direct.
I have always preferred the more rotating tracks, with more "carving" which worked better for me.
But that's sport, these variations of the same discipline, which makes it so difficult to stay on top but also gives all the interest of the challenge to be met.
"I have always asked myself questions and looked for the answers to become better"
Ted ligety
What would be your advice to young skiers to have a long and successful career?
My advice would be to always try to do better, to take everything in hand.
This is a big flaw that I see among some young skiers, they always have an excuse and are not always in control of their program.
This is largely what explains my success.
I have always asked myself questions and sought the answers to become better.
I was never satisfied with what I had, I looked for different ways to prepare my body, to be stronger or to ski smarter with an innovation.
If you had to hold back for a moment as a young skier?
One of the moments that changed things for me was at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics when I was a pioneer.
I realized then that there was not such a big difference between me, my friends of the FIS races (3rd division of the ski), and these guys who were at the top of their art but who talked and laughed anyway.
I realized then that you don't have to be a robot to do this sport, that you can concentrate on running between the nets and then have fun the rest of the time.
In some races lately, have you ever said to yourself "if only I was 27 guys I would have beaten you easily"?
Conditions change too much.
It's hard to say to yourself + if I was skiing as before I could have done this or that +.
It's like wondering if Lebron (James) is better than Michael Jordan.
Of course there have been times in my career where I thought I was unbeatable, no matter where or when.
But hey, that was just my opinion (laughs).
Two rounds are never the same, it is impossible to compare the times.
There is no world record for giant slalom, you are not at the pool or on an athletics track.
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