Beach Volleyball superstar Clemens Doppler announces retirement
News
Shortly before turning 43, an Austrian sports icon has drawn the line under a unique career: Beach Volleyball superstar Clemens Doppler has announced his retirement from competitive sport after spending some 24 years in the game. Doppler will bid farewell to the sport this coming weekend at the Austrian Beach Volleyball Championships due to take place at the Strandbad in Baden from Friday to Sunday.
Before that, the exceptional athlete spoke on Wednesday morning about his sporting career with so many highlights and plans for the future. Doppler also took the opportunity to thank his supporters, partners, sponsors and of course the many fans. The press conference was broadcast live on ORF Sport+.
His achievements are outstanding. Unforgettable was the Vice World Championship title in 2017 on Vienna’s Danube Island alongside Alexander Horst, and no less spectacular was the gold at the European Championships with Nik Berger in 2003 followed by the same achievement with Peter Gartmayer in 2007.
Doppler stood on the European Championship podium two more times – securing silver in 2010 with Matthias Mellitzer, and four years later he won bronze with Horst. Born in Upper Austria, he qualified four times for the Olympic Games, on the World Pro Tour Doppler and various partners achieved numerous top results, contesting Grand Slam and Major finals. At national level there was hardly any way around Doppler – his nine championship titles are just extraordinary. And with this year’s Austrian Championships the circle is now complete. Beach icon Doppler is contesting a state championship one last time, and he wants to do it again with partner Thomas Kunert. “It will be the perfect conclusion!” he said.
Gernot Leitner“What he has given to our sport is phenomenal. His successes speak for themselves. What is outstanding is how long he was among the best in the world, despite many injuries. He is the Austrian Volleyball superstar, a personality that is very rare - across all sports. He has earned this unique position over the years, actually it was decades. When such an icon ends his sporting career, there is always a crying eye. But I am pleased that he will remain connected to our sport. There is a lot in the pipeline!”
President of the Austrian Volleyball Federation