ANNECY, France (AFP) - Olympic downhill champion Antoine Deneriaz admitted that a loss of confidence and form following a serious injury last year had led to his decision Wednesday to retire from skiing.

The 31-year-old Frenchman was a shock gold medalist in skiing's blue riband event at the Turin Olympics in February 2006, but has struggled with his form and fitness ever since.
""I am announcing that I have decided to completely end my career. It's time to turn the page,"" Deneriaz said.
Injuries from a crash last season had shattered the Frenchman's confidence and hit his form on the grueling World Cup circuit.
And after a series of mediocre results so far this season, Deneriaz admitted his heart had already decided for him as he prepared to train at Beaver Creek last weekend, an event in which he decided not to participate.
""It was at training that I decided it was time to stop. As soon as we began the preview of the course, I just didn't feel right,"" added Deneriaz.
""I went up to the start gate hesitantly, and just knew that it would be the final downhill of my career -- and I told my coach so.
""I'm going to be 32 soon and I realize that the chances of me achieving another major result in my career are virtually none.""
Deneriaz's career hit the heights, then the abyss, in the space of a few weeks last year.
Only a few weeks after his stunning Olympic victory, the Frenchman suffered a serious knee injury in a spectacular crash at the World Cup finals in Are, Sweden.
It took a lot of hard work to get where he is now, but Deneriaz admitted his loss of form -- and the feeling that he would not get any better -- had left him facing stark choices.
""It (the crash) was the first time I realized I was in a high risk sport. The downhill is a demanding mistress,"" he added. ""I trained really hard to try and come back but I had a terrible start to this season.
""I really hit the bottom at Beaver Creek. For me, skiing is all about winning races and getting on the podium.""
He added: ""But I want to hang on to the good memories. I had a lot of great, and unforgettable experiences, but I just don't feel I have what it takes to compete with the best at Val Gardena (next week).
""As it stands, I'm not going fast and I'm not enjoying skiing,"" said Deneriaz, admitting some of his days had been filled with anxiety and self-doubt.
""I'm proud of what I've achieved. But the downhill is a discipline in which you have to always feel 100 percent. I needed to feel 100 percent confident, but it just wasn't there.""