On January 4, 2023, ski legend Rosi Mittermaier died of cancer at the age of 72. Now her son Felix Neureuther (38) spoke for the first time in a “Bild” interview about the heavy loss. “We were prepared, but when it really happened, we were all overwhelmed,” says the former ski racer about his family’s difficult times earlier this year. For the phase after his mother’s death, he accepted wishes from her while she was still alive: “Mommy never felt like a superstar and didn’t want a big funeral service.” It shouldn’t be a “pope’s casserole”.
That’s why he and the surviving relatives held a “small family celebration: “In the spirit of mom.” “Politicians, celebrities and friends – plus all the security personnel. Garmisch-Partenkirchen would have been bursting at the seams. We too would have been overwhelmed,” Neureuther explains the decision. His father Christian Neureuther (73) is doing better again and he would appear in public again. “We live right next to each other, so dad is not alone either,” says the ex-world-class skier. In addition, his father takes loving care of his grandchildren. Together with his wife Miriam (32), Felix Neureuther has three children aged 5 and 3 years and eleven months.
His mother wanted the family to look forward after her death. “There was a certain emptiness that we had to come to terms with – and still have to,” admits Neureuther. Everyone would “always carry Rosi Mittermaier in their hearts”, but life must go on: “Mom wanted that.” Mittermaier’s ashes have not yet been buried: “We will do something to remember Mama, but we will take our time.”
The widower Christian Neureuther spends a lot of mourning with his grandchildren on the ski slopes. In an interview with “Münchner Merkur” and “tz”, the former professional says: “It’s wonderful to go on the slopes with the family, I also enjoy it with my grandchildren a lot. It gives me a lot.” Son Felix Neureuther agrees: “It’s incredibly nice to see how dad infects the kids with his enthusiasm.” He is “just perfect” at conveying the joy of skiing to them with playful ease.
