Cancer was probably discovered half a year ago - what is known about Rosi Mittermaier's death

Created: 01/16/2023 10:23 am

By: Florian Schimak

Skiing in Germany mourns the loss of Rosi Mittermaier.

The Olympic champion died on Wednesday at the age of 72.

Munich/Garmisch-Partenkirchen – The German sports world mourns the loss of an exceptional athlete and a very special person.

Rosi Mittermaier passed away on Wednesday (January 4th) at the age of 72.

As her family confirmed to

and

on Thursday , she "fell asleep peacefully with the family after a serious illness".

Shortly after it became known, countless companions and friends reacted with dismay to the news of Rosi Mittermaier's death.

DSV President Dr.

Franz Steinle called her "a human soul".

Ex-ski star Markus Wasmaier also found emotional words: "You won't find a person like that again, she leaves a huge gap."

Rosi Mittermaier is dead: she even made the postman "foolish"

Mittermaier provided one of the biggest celebrations in German Olympic history when she won two gold medals in downhill and slalom and one silver medal in giant slalom in Innsbruck in 1976.

"These uniquely emotional moments still feel as if they were yesterday," said former DOSB President Alfons Hörmann.

Over the years, "Gold-Rosi" has been celebrated as a kind of pop star.

On the occasion of her 70th birthday, Mittermaier recalled: "In my parents' house there was a whole room full of mail and packages," she said at the time.

"In one month, 27,000 letters came, that's what the postman told us, he got totally mad because he had to bring the whole flood up to the Winklmoosalm".

Rosi Mittermaier (left) died on Wednesday at the age of 72.

© IMAGO

Rosi Mittermaier: "Gold-Rosi" also successful after an active career

She took advantage of her popularity after her active career and pursued countless projects.

As an advertising ambassador, for example, she traveled the world.

Mittermaier founded a family in Garmisch with her husband, the former ski racer Christian Neureuther.

Son Felix later became the most successful German racing driver in World Cup history.

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In addition, Rosi Mittermaier and her husband have become a kind of icon in Nordic Walking.

Also unforgettable is her appearance at the G7 summit in Elmau in 2022, when her husband Christian Neureuther and daughter-in-law Miriam Neureuther completed a Nordic walking run through Garmisch-Partenkirchen with the first ladies.

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Cause of death of Rosi Mittermaier: What is known so far

Even then, Rosi Mittermaier was not there.

The

reports on cancer and writes that it was discovered half a year ago.

Little is known about her cancer.

On Thursday, the family around son Felix, daughter Ameli and husband Christian confirmed the death of the 72-year-old to

: "We as a family announce the sad news that our beloved wife, mom and grandma died on January 4th, 2023 after a serious illness in the circles of the family fell asleep peacefully." (smk/afp/dpa/sid)