“After 24 years in top-class sport, I can say ‘Life was a Beach’ and announce my retirement as a beach volleyball player,” said the two-time European champion and World Cup silver medalist. However, the withdrawal does not take place immediately, but the state championship at the weekend in Baden is the last tournament in Austria.
In addition, there is still the possibility of participating in one or the other international tournament during the rest of the season, “if we still slip into it,” added the Upper Austrian. Two years ago, he took it easy on the sport and mostly competed at national level with his partner Thomas Kunert. Away from the pitch, the father of a nine-year-old daughter has increasingly devoted himself to family and career after career. He completes his training as a police officer, gives lectures to executives, but also stayed in beach volleyball as a mentor.
Indisputably, Doppler celebrated his greatest career success at the home World Cup in 2017 on Vienna’s Danube Island. Carried by thousands of fans, he fought his way to the final alongside Alexander Horst and won the only ÖVV medal at world championships to date with silver. In addition, Doppler was crowned European Champion twice with Nik Berger in 2003 and Peter Gartmayer in 2007 and took part in three Olympic Games.
However, the career of the 2.00 m tall blocker was by no means flawless. Three cruciate ligament tears, numerous other injuries and a number of operations put Doppler to the test again and again during his career. Nevertheless, thanks to his perseverance and irrepressible will, the Upper Austrian, who was born in Upper Austria, has repeatedly pushed himself back to the top of the world.
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