Hermann Maier Bio: World Cup, Ski, Wife & Net Worth

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Hermann Maier is one of the most prominent figures in alpine ski racing. He is a four-time World Cup champion, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and a three-time World Championship titleholder. 

During his ski career, Maier won 54 racing competitions in the World Cup. His career wins earned him the third-ranking on the men’s all-time list of greatest alpine skiers in history.

In 2000, Maier recorded the most points in a single season by any alpine skier. He continued to reign the title with 2000 points before Tina Maze took over the throne with 2414 points in 2013. 

Today, Hermann Maier is considered one of the greatest alpine skiers in the world. However, he did not achieve success quickly in life. It took more than a decade of patience and hard work for his dreams to turn into reality. 

Hermann-Maier-in-a-Sweater
Hermann Maier.

With an energetic personality, incredible stamina, and risk-taking attitude, Maier successfully left his mark in the world of alpine ski racing. Hence, people continue to talk about him to this day. 

If you are curious to follow Hermann Maier through his journey to becoming a legendary alpine skier, read this article till the very end!

Quick Facts: Hermann Maier 

Full Name Hermann Maier
Nick Name Herminator 
Date Of Birth December 7, 1972
Birth Place Altenmarkt im Pongau, Austria
Residence Flachau, Austria
Age 51
Gender Male
Sexual Orientation Straight
Height 5’11” (1.81 m)
Weight 90 kg (198 lb)
High School Not Available
University Name Not Available
Zodiac Sign Sagittarius
Religion Christianity
Nationality Austrian
Ethnicity White
Father’s Name Hermann Maier Sr. 
Mother’s Name Gertraud Maier
Siblings Alexander Maier
Hair Colour Light Brown
Eye Colour Blue Eyes
Skin Colour Fair
Marital Status Married 
Partner Carina Schneller
Kids Three
Profession Former Alpine Ski Racer
Status Retired
Net Worth $1 million
Salary Not Available
Social Media Instagram
Merch Hermann Maier Sports Action Photo
Last Update March, 2024

Hermann Maier: Early Life and Family

Hermann Maier aka Herminator was born on December 7, 1972, to Gertraud and Hermann Maier Sr. in Altenmarkt im Pongau, Salzburg, Austria. 

Maier was only three years old when his father introduced him to the world of skiing. He was immediately hooked, and he started to spend his free time at his father’s ski school. 

When Maier was 15, he joined the Schladming ski academy. But since he was on the slim side and not very muscular, the academy decided he was unfit to become an alpine skier. Maier was a good skier, but it was not enough to hold their interest.

The academy sent him home, and he returned to his family in the Flachau village with a heavy heart. However, he did not allow the rejection to affect him for too long, and he continued to practice at his father’s school.

During the summer season, Maier worked as a bricklayer in his hometown, and in the winter, he was a ski instructor at the school. 

Maier has a younger brother named Alexander. Unlike Hermann, Alexander was interested in snowboarding. Additionally, he participated in the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics as a competitive snowboarder.

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Hermann Maier: Career

Amateur years

Maier participated in local ski racing competitions and became a regional champion multiple times in Salzburg and Tyrol. Unfortunately, despite his good skills, Maier was unable to join the Austrian World Cup team. 

On January 6, 1996, his hard work and patience were noticed by Austrian coaches in a World Cup giant slalom in Flachau. Maier recorded the 12th fastest time in the event, and although he was a forerunner and not a competitor, it drew attention towards him. 

Hermann-Maier-Skiier
Maier during an alpine skiing event.

His international career started to unfold in front of him. The Austrian Ski Federation took an interest in him, and he competed in his first Europa Cup event in Les Arcs.

Maier finished the race in second place, and he won another race the next day at the same ski resort. In short, Hermann Maier won the Europa Cup title and the season title in giant slalom. 

World Cup Debut

On February 10, 1996, Hermann Maier made his World Cup debut but did not win any events. However, Maier secured his first World Cup race victory a year later at a super-G event in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Maier participated in the 1998 Winter Olympics held in Nagano, Japan, slowly making his presence felt in the world of alpine ski racing.

Despite injuring himself in a ski crash a few days ago, he won two gold medals in the giant slalom and super-G race. 

After that incident, he made it to the cover of Sports Illustrated, and people worldwide took notice of the alpine ski racer.

He displayed outstanding performance in the 1998 World Cup season that earned him the World Cup title. Additionally, he finished the giant slalom and super-G event in the first place. 

During the 1999 World Championships held in Colorado, United States, Maier won gold in the downhill and super-G race. 

Maier was the overall winner in the 2000 World Cup season. On top of that, he won the downhill, giant slalom, and super-G season title.

Hermann Maier was able to win the overall World Cup title once again in 2001, including the season titles in giant slalom, super-G, and downhill.

Moreover, he won a silver medal in downhill and bronze in super-G at the 2001 World Championships. 

Hermann-Maier-Bormio-GS-2005-Comeback-DW-Sport-Bormio
Hermann Maier pictured sliding down the slopes.

Maier was returning home from a training session when his motorcycle slammed into a car on August 24, 2001. He was severely injured after the collision, and the doctors had to perform reconstructive surgery on his right leg. 

Titles 

As a result, Maier could not compete in the 2002 World Cup season or the Winter Olympics. But he participated in the 2003 season, winning a super-G race in Kitzbühel, Austria, only two weeks after his return. 

In addition, Herminator earned a silver medal in the 2003 World Championships held in St. Moritz, Switzerland. 

In the 2004 season, Maier won the overall World Cup title along with the super-G season title. It was a matter of celebration since many people were convinced his career was over after the motorcycle accident.

Hermann Maier was honored with the Laureus World Sports Award for the Comeback of the Year in 2004. 

He competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics, bagging the silver medal in super-G and bronze in giant slalom.

The 2007 World Cup season was relatively uneventful, and Maier did not win any season titles. However, on January 18, 2008, he finished the super-G race held in Kitzbühel in second place.

Additionally, Maier earned his first super-G win after almost three years on November 30, 2008. It was his best performance of the 2009 World Cup season.

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Retirement

After 13 years of competing in the World Cup events, Hermann Maier officially announced his retirement in Vienna on October 13, 2009.

Herminator also underwent knee surgery in the summer of 2009, and that was when he realized he could no longer perform his best on the slope. The announcement came four months before the 2010 Winter Olympics, so many fans were disheartened after hearing the news. 

To sum up, Maier achieved 54 World Cup victories; he won 15 downhills, 24 super-G, 14 giant slalom, and one combined event. As a competitive alpine skier, he earned four overall World Cup titles in 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2004. 

On the other hand, Hermann Maier runs his ski and snowboard school in Flachau, Salzburg, Austria.

Hermann Maier: Marriage and Kids

Maier married his long-time girlfriend Carina Schneller on May 1, 2019, in his hometown. Their wedding ceremony was carried out in Schloss Höch, Flachau, in the presence of close friends and family. 

Moreover, Hermann and Carina have three children. Unfortunately, there is no other in details available on Maier’s wife or children on the internet.

Hermann-with-his-wife
Maier with his wife, Carina Schneller.

The Maiers are remarkably tight-lipped regarding their family matters, so they have not shared many details on their private lives.

The couple does attend public events together now and then, but they are reluctant to reveal too much. 

Hermann Maier: Net Worth 

Hermann Maier won multiple championship titles during his professional career, so he is undoubtedly one of the most famous Austrian alpine ski racers. 

Hence, it is also safe to assume that Maier made millions in prize money and accumulated a huge career earning. However, there is no updated information on his salary since he retired more than a decade ago. 

his estimated net worth is $1 million.

Maier was sponsored by the manufacturing company Atomic for the majority of his ski racing career. But then he decided to switch to Head Sport GmbH in June 2007. 

Similarly, Maier appeared in television advertisements for Raiffeisen, which is a banking group in Austria. He worked with Raiffeisen under a long-term sponsorship deal. 

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Hermann Maier: Social Media

Hermann Maier does not have a public social media account. But if you’re interested, you can find more details on his ski and snowboard school on Instagram.

The school’s official account includes all the information you may need if you want to learn skiing or snowboarding yourself!

Instagram: 2.3k followers

FAQs

What is the story behind Hermann Maier’s nickname?

Hermann Maier was often nicknamed “The Herminator” because of his unbreakable character. He was indestructible as a sportsman since he was injured multiple times and yet returned to compete without breaking a sweat.

The nickname was derived from the hit movie franchise Terminator as a joke, but it stuck with him for his entire career.

Sanjib Sah
Sanjib Sah
Sanjib Sah is an engineer and content writer passionate about sports and athletics. With a background in engineering and a love for all things active, Sanjib brings a unique perspective to the world of sports writing. Whether he is covering the latest trends in sports technology or sharing tips on improving your game, Sanjib's words are always rooted in a deep appreciation for players' hard work and dedication everywhere. In his free time, you can find him hitting the courts or hitting the trails, always looking for new ways to challenge himself and improve his skills.

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