"One victory more or less doesn't make the difference for me now"
About this Quote
Maier's public story makes that subtext hard to miss. This is the skier who became a national myth in 1998 by crashing spectacularly in Nagano and still clawing back to gold, then later survived a motorcycle accident that could have ended his career. In that light, the quote reads less like modesty and more like perspective earned the violent way. It's not that he doesn't care; it's that caring has been re-ranked. Health, longevity, pride in the work, maybe even simple peace, move above podium math.
The intent is also tactical. Athletes are constantly asked to perform hunger on command, to reassure sponsors and fans that the appetite never fades. Maier flips that script without sounding bitter. He frames detachment as maturity, not defeat: a champion claiming ownership over his motivations instead of renting them out to results. It's a small sentence that quietly punctures the spectator fantasy that greatness requires endless desperation.
Quote Details
| Topic | Victory |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Maier, Hermann. (2026, January 17). One victory more or less doesn't make the difference for me now. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/one-victory-more-or-less-doesnt-make-the-59860/
Chicago Style
Maier, Hermann. "One victory more or less doesn't make the difference for me now." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/one-victory-more-or-less-doesnt-make-the-59860/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"One victory more or less doesn't make the difference for me now." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/one-victory-more-or-less-doesnt-make-the-59860/. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.











