BERLIN: Austria's record-breaking ski jumper Gregor Schlierenzauer on Thursday put his career on hold on the eve of the world championships blaming a crisis in form and media intrusion.
He pressed the pause button after ten years at the top of his discipline with a record 53 World Cup titles.
The last of those dates back to over a year ago.
"Things were getting too tough. After 10 years competing at the top I'm taking an indefinite break," he told his official website on the day he turned 26.
After failing to make any impression at his home jump at Innsbruck last week he decided to skip Wednesday's final leg of the Four Hills tournament at Bischohshofen.
He took silver at last year's world championships but his best performance in the World Cup this campaign is a modest 14th at Lillehammer.
The Tyrolian said on Thursday he wanted "to leave the spotlight", adding that he had been hurt by media speculation over his private life.
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