Some exceptional Alpine athletes retired following the Olympic season. FIS thanks them all for the wonderful moments and emotions they provided in the FIS World Cup and World Championships.
Julia Mancuso (USA, 1984)
399 World Cup starts, 36 World Cup podiums, seven World Cup victories, five World Championships podiums, four Olympic Winter Games medals. The career of this bubbly personality ended shortly before the Olympic Games, due to severe hip problems.
Veronika Velez-Zuzulova (SVK, 1984)
183 World Cup starts, 30 World Cup podiums, five World Cup victories.
Shortly before the beginning of this season, the Slovakian slalom whiz tore her ACL. She managed a miraculous recovery to claim a 17th place in PyeongChang 2018 and she was then able to ski her farewell race in Ofterschwang.
Michalea Kirchgasser (AUT, 1985)
284 World Cup starts, 17 World Cup podiums, three World Cup victories, three World Championships podiums.
Her 17 years on the World Cup were marked by three medals at the World Championships (2nd SL 2013, 3rd AC 2015, 3rd AC 2017).
Maria Pietilae Holmner (SWE, 1986)
207 World Cup starts, 10 World Cup podiums, three World Cup victories, two World Championships podiums.
Swedish tech champion Maria Pietliae Holmner also made the decision to shift her focus, following a degenerative disc issue in her back. She will now help the course crew in Åre for the FIS World Championships 2019.
Jan Hudec (CZE, 1981)
118 World Cup starts, five World Cup podiums, two World Cup victories, one World Championships podium, one Olympic Winter Games medal.
The former Czech Republic and Canadian athlete announced his retirement, satisfied to have represented both his countries at the Olympics as he changed nationality in June 2016. He earned two medals at major events (2nd in DH at WSC 2007 and 3rd in SG at OWG 2014), as well as two World Cup victories (DH Lake Louise 2007 and Chamonix 2012).
Manuela Moelgg (ITA, 1983)
283 World Cup starts, 14 World Cup podiums.
At 34 years-old, Moelgg claimed three World Cup giant slalom podiums this season in Sölden, Killington and Courchevel and ended seventh in the season standings.
Guillermo Fayed (FRA, 1985)
130 World Cup starts, four World Cup podiums.
After a torn ACL, Fayed raced the downhill this season, but struggled to ski at his best level and announced his retirement after a long career.
Patrick Thaler (ITA, 1978)
172 World Cup starts, three World Cup podiums.
The Italian slalom specialist crossed the finish line of a World Cup for the last time in Schladming. For more than 20 years he was living his childhood dream and claimed three World Cup podiums.
Edit Miklos (HUN, 1988)
88 World Cup starts, two World Cup podiums.
The most successful alpine skier from Hungary made the decision to retire from active ski racing.
Andrej Sporn (SLO, 1981)
198 World Cup starts, one World Cup podium.
The speed skier has the honour of a Kitzbuehel downhill podium as a career highlight. Sporn chose to retire officially at this home World Cup in Kranjska Gora.
Florian Eisath (ITA, 1984)
113 World Cup starts, one World Cup podium
Florian Eisath celebrated his only podium in front of his home crowd in Alta Badia in 2016.
Denise Feierabend (SUI, 1989)
156 World Cup starts, one Olympic gold medal.
Feierabend’s best career season was her last one, where she finished 10th in the slalom and 23rd of the Overall rankings, winning Olympic gold in the alpine team debut with Switzerland.
Other notable retirements include: Verena Stuffer (ITA), Tim Jitloff (USA), Carmen Thalmann (AUT) Jeffery Frisch (CAN), Manuel Pleisch (SUI), Patrick Schweiger (AUT), Philippe Schmid (GER), Marie Massios (FRA), Bernhard Niederberger (SUI), Elisabeth Willibald (GER), Beatrice Scalvedi (SUI).
Source: fis-ski.com
