FIS News
Time to Say Goodbye: Freestyle Retirements
There's not a huge list of athletes beginning new chapters in their lives by walking away from World Cup competition on the on the Freestyle side, but there are some significant ones.
The most notable skier we will miss next season is, inarguably, Hannah Kearney (USA). The numbers don't lie: with a victory in the final event of the 2014/15 World Cup season at finals in Megeve, Kearney wrapped up her career tied for the ladies' moguls victories record with 46, achieved 71 total podiums in 119 World Cup events, won six moguls crystal globes and four Freestyle overall globes, took home eight World Championships medals (including three golds), and claimed Olympic gold at Vancouver 2010 and bronze at Sochi 2014.
Truly, Hannah Kearney was one of the greatest athletes in the history of freestyle skiing, and her shadow will loom large for a long time to come.
There are some other notables stepping down from the US squad as well, including Kearney's longtime teammates Eliza Outtrim and Heather McPhie from the moguls squad. Both McPhie, with four victories and 15 podiums in 81 World Cup starts, and Outtrim, with one victory and six podiums in 78 starts, were important parts of the US team for a long time, and the door is now wide open for a new generation of US moguls athletes to step up.
Further on the US side, aerialists Dylan Ferguson and Alison Lee are stepping back, as well as halfpipe legend Simon Dumont and ladies' halfpipe competitor Angeli Vaanlanen.
For the Swiss team, several ski cross athletes have announced their retirements, with Alois Mani, Gregor Fritsche, Philip Gasser, and long-time injured skier Franziska Steffen all making way for the new crop of Swiss racers, while three-time World Cup halfpipe podium skier Nils Lauper has decided to pack it in.
Perhaps the biggest name to step back for the Swiss ahead of the 2015/16 season is halfpipe star Mirjam Jaeger, who finished her World Cup career on a high note with a bronze medal at the Kreischberg 2015 World Championships.
The French squad has but one retirement to report, with long-time ladies' ski cross competitor and Vancouver 2010 bronze medallist Marion Josserand stepping away after missing all of the 2014/15 season due to injury.
Similarly, the Austrians have so far only to report that ski cross competitor Franz Promok will be hanging up the boards after 2014/15.
The 2014/15 Freestyle Nations Cup-winning Canadian team has announced the retirement of aerials veteran Sabrina Guerin, who leaves the sport as the Canadian national champion.
Finally, from the Australians comes the announcement that ski cross athlete Katya Crema will not be returning to competition after taking the 2014/15 season off the focus on other pursuits. Crema's final competition came at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, where she finished 7th.
Source: fis-ski.com
The most notable skier we will miss next season is, inarguably, Hannah Kearney (USA). The numbers don't lie: with a victory in the final event of the 2014/15 World Cup season at finals in Megeve, Kearney wrapped up her career tied for the ladies' moguls victories record with 46, achieved 71 total podiums in 119 World Cup events, won six moguls crystal globes and four Freestyle overall globes, took home eight World Championships medals (including three golds), and claimed Olympic gold at Vancouver 2010 and bronze at Sochi 2014.
Truly, Hannah Kearney was one of the greatest athletes in the history of freestyle skiing, and her shadow will loom large for a long time to come.
There are some other notables stepping down from the US squad as well, including Kearney's longtime teammates Eliza Outtrim and Heather McPhie from the moguls squad. Both McPhie, with four victories and 15 podiums in 81 World Cup starts, and Outtrim, with one victory and six podiums in 78 starts, were important parts of the US team for a long time, and the door is now wide open for a new generation of US moguls athletes to step up.
Further on the US side, aerialists Dylan Ferguson and Alison Lee are stepping back, as well as halfpipe legend Simon Dumont and ladies' halfpipe competitor Angeli Vaanlanen.
For the Swiss team, several ski cross athletes have announced their retirements, with Alois Mani, Gregor Fritsche, Philip Gasser, and long-time injured skier Franziska Steffen all making way for the new crop of Swiss racers, while three-time World Cup halfpipe podium skier Nils Lauper has decided to pack it in.
Perhaps the biggest name to step back for the Swiss ahead of the 2015/16 season is halfpipe star Mirjam Jaeger, who finished her World Cup career on a high note with a bronze medal at the Kreischberg 2015 World Championships.
The French squad has but one retirement to report, with long-time ladies' ski cross competitor and Vancouver 2010 bronze medallist Marion Josserand stepping away after missing all of the 2014/15 season due to injury.
Similarly, the Austrians have so far only to report that ski cross competitor Franz Promok will be hanging up the boards after 2014/15.
The 2014/15 Freestyle Nations Cup-winning Canadian team has announced the retirement of aerials veteran Sabrina Guerin, who leaves the sport as the Canadian national champion.
Finally, from the Australians comes the announcement that ski cross athlete Katya Crema will not be returning to competition after taking the 2014/15 season off the focus on other pursuits. Crema's final competition came at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, where she finished 7th.
Source: fis-ski.com
