Skiing: Return of the 'Herminator' brings world to the Alps

The organisers of the World Championships should consider giving Hermann Maier the freedom of St Moritz after he single-handedly cranked up worldwide interest in the sport's biggest event which begins in St Moritz on Sunday.

Alpine skiing has long suffered from a lack of internationally appealing personalities, although Austrians are lionised at home. Even America's finest, Bode Miller, who has been involved in a tussle for the World Cup lead this season, attracts little notice at home.

But Maier has written himself a script in the last fortnight that has appeal beyond Austria and beyond the sport itself. Maier was the fourth most successful racer in World Cup history with 41 wins, as well as being a double Olympic and world champion and World Cup winner three times. But 18 months ago, a motorcycle accident left doctors discussing whether to amputate his right leg.

Maier fought back though the process was long and difficult. With perfect timing, the "Herminator" put himself back on the top of a World Cup podium on Monday, winning the Kitzbühel super-G 13 days after his return and six days before the world championships. Sunday's opening race, the super-G, will now be a major draw. "Whatever happens there will only be a bonus," Maier said. His return has also fired up his team-mates. Austrians swept the top five places in the Kitzbühel super-G and the team are capable of winning several medals. Last season's World Cup champion, Stephan Eberharter, will give Maier a run in the speed events and the Austrian team also boast two other superb downhillers in the defending world champion, Hannes Trinkl, and the Olympic winner, Fritz Strobl.

In the slalom, last season's World Cup champion, Ivica Kostelic, of Croatia, will be a favourite but Italy's Giorgio Rocca and the Finn Kalle Palander will both pose a threat after winning their maiden World Cup races in the last fortnight.

Kostelic makes up the entire Croatian ski team along with his sister Janica, who became a national heroine by winning a record three golds and one silver at last year's Olympics. Janica, 21, won the overall World Cup in 2001 and has already wrapped up this year's slalom World Cup with two races left. But she has no track record in world championships, her best being a fifth in the slalom in St Anton two years ago. Although she says that her goal this season is to win the overall World Cup again, it will be a major surprise if she leaves St Moritz without a gold. Heading the queue to challenge her will be the in-form reigning world slalom champion, Anja Paerson.

The Swede, also 21, posted her third consecutive victory in the World Cup on Sunday when she beat Kostelic in a slalom at Maribor 24 hours after topping the podium in a giant slalom.

While Kostelic cannot be discounted in the speed events – she was a super-G silver medallist in Salt Lake City – she will have a hard job to upset the traditional downhill specialists. The Austrian World Cup champion, Michaela Dorfmeister, has struggled all season to rediscover her speed but will relish defending her title. One of her most formidable opponents will be France's Olympic champion, Carole Montillet.

World Championships Schedule

Sun 2 Feb: Men's super-G (11.30).

Mon 3 Feb: Women's super-G (11.30).

Thurs 6 Feb: Men's combined downhill (0900), Men's combined slalom (1200/1400).

Fri 7 Feb: Men's downhill (11.30).

Sun 9 Feb: Women's downhill (11.30)

Mon 10 Feb: Women's combined downhill (09.00), Women's combined slalom (1200/1400).

Wed 12 Feb: Men's giant slalom (08.30/1200).

Thurs 13 Feb: Women's giant slalom (0830/1200).

Sat 15 Feb: Women's slalom (0900/1200).

Sun 16 Feb: Men's slalom (0900/1200).

(All times GMT).