For many years, Felix Neureuther had no idea that Rosi Mittermaier was a skiing idol

Created: 2023-01-09 04:51

By: Marcus Giebel

Rosi Mittermaier had long been a star when she became a mother.

At first, however, their children did not learn anything about their parents' fame.

Munich – Apparently, death was not unexpected for Rosi Mittermaier.

She is said to have known since August that she was seriously ill.

Cause of death probably cancer.

But the Upper Bavarian, who rode into the limelight on skis and had become an integral part of the German public since her triumph at the 1976 Olympics, decided against sharing this stroke of fate with the world.

How she's had to share almost everything with the world since those winter days of Innsbruck, because that's what crowd favorite status entails.

At the end of her life, which brought so much joy to Rosi Mittermaier – in addition to her sporting successes, she also had a family with two children and four grandchildren – things should be different.

Her serious illness was kept secret from the public.

Probably also because "Gold-Rosi" knew what would have triggered the spread of the devastating news among their fans and throughout Germany.

Felix Neureuther on Rosi Mittermaier: "Never said she was famous for skiing"

Because Mittermaier was never about being the center of attention.

Statements from her famous son Felix Neureuther, who followed in her footsteps as a skier, also confirm this.

The

father of three told the

In the Neureuther house, Mittermaier and her husband Christian Neureuther, who was seriously ill in 2021, were by no means the sports stars and darlings of the nation, but simply mom and dad - just damn fast and good on skis.

In retrospect, the Filius called them

“the best (ski) instructors in the world” in the

But there, too, he emphasized that they tried hard to keep their fame hidden: "We didn't have any trophies at home."

Mother and son: Rosi Mittermaier poses with young Felix Neureuther.

(Archive image from 1988) © IMAGO / teutopress

Felix Neureuther and the famous parents: "Rarely in children's races" - with good reason

In addition, Mittermaier and Neureuther rarely attended their offspring's competitions: "My parents were rarely present at the children's races.

Otherwise there would have been a lot of hustle and bustle because they are so well known.” But the son couldn't have known that at the time.

Although there was already a hint: In those junior races, the competitors called him "Rosi", as reported by

.

It was only by chance at the age of nine that he found out how famous his parents really were: "Someone put a book with photos of the Olympic champion Rosi Mittermaier in my hand." And of course Neureuther junior knew her very well.

Felix Neureuther on the children's lift anecdote: Rosi Mittermaier wanted to go home - but then the son roared

In that recording, he also relates an anecdote that shows how successful his parents were in inheriting their enthusiasm for skiing.

He said it was “so much fun that it even got to be too much for my mother at times.

Once she wanted to go home because she was cold.”

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But her son thwarted this plan: "I yelled so loudly that a woman noticed us and my mother realized: 'Look, Gold-Rosi is forcing her son to ski,' she said.

It was exactly the opposite: I was the one who wanted to stay out at the children's lift, not my mother."

The persistence has paid off, because today Felix Neureuther is the most successful German alpine skier for men with 13 World Cup victories.

The genes of his parents may have contributed to this.

Famous family: Felix Neureuther (left), Rosi Mittermaier and Christian Neureuther also appeared together on TV.

(Archive image from 2020) © IMAGO / POP-EYE

Felix Neureuther ennobled mother Rosi Mittermaier: "You were always there for us, for my sister and me"

But skiing wasn't the most important thing in the life of the Neureuther family.

On Mittermaier's 70th birthday, her son wrote in the

: "You and Dad, you have always exemplified down-to-earthness for us, and especially the love of nature.

Sticking together as a family!

And has respect for all people!”

He was particularly impressed by her care – all the more so when he considers her status.

Because despite the "many obligations and opportunities, you subordinated everything to us children and family, you were always there for us, for my sister and me".

For Mittermaier, however, that was probably a matter of course.

She never saw herself as a superstar with privileges.

But as a wife, mother and grandmother.

Even in their last weeks, days and hours.

Which – if the illness permitted – were apparently reserved for the family.