Swiss snowboard cross champion Tanja Frieden retires after injury
January 26, 2010 | 8:42
am
Olympic snowboard cross champion Tanja Frieden of Switzerland announced her retirement today after tearing both of her Achilles' tendons in a World Cup event last week.
At a news conference, Frieden, from a wheelchair, tearfully announced her retirement after having surgery to repair the injuries. She had planned on competing at the Vancouver Olympic Games, but said the injury has ended her competitive career.
Frieden, 33, beat American Lindsey Jacobellis to win the first women's snowboard cross gold medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics.
-- Austin Knoblauch
Photo: Tanja Frieden celebrates after beating Lindsey Jacobellis, left, to win the gold medal in snowboardcross at the 2006 Winter Olympics. Credit: Lionel Cironneau / Associated Press
