More Athletes Hang Up Their Boots

As most athletes are currently testing their gear for the 2018/19 season, some world cup skiers took the hard decision to retire from active ski racing. In addition to the athletes mentioned in the two previous articles, the following have announced their retirement lately:

Edit Miklos (HUN, 1988)

88 World Cup starts, 2 World Cup podiums (3rd DH Lake Louise 2016, 3rd DH St.Moritz 2015)

The most successful alpine skier from Hungary made the decision to retire from active ski racing at the end of last week, due to a conflict with her national ski association. She announced in a long social media post that she would apply for the position of the president of the association. On Sunday, during an extraordinary assembly, she was elected as such, but it looks like the former president is contesting this decision and will go to court.

Whatever happens on the political side, Edit Miklos career has been a fantastic one. She claimed the two first ever World Cup podiums for Hungary, with two 3rd places in downhill, one in St. Moritz in 2015 and the other in Lake Louise in 2016. Her determination also brought her to the 7th place of the Olympic downhill in Sochi and into the Top 15 of the discipline in the 2015/16 season. A severe injury occurred in January 2017 slowed her down but her passion for ski racing is still intact.

She said:

“It’s been painfull but provocative to come to this decision, that is a pretty big turnaround in my carrer. I am proud of my results and I have done everything, to mark Hungary among other ski nations. I couldn’t have done it without the professional and moral support of my team.

“Due to the tension and dispute that has evolved lately in the Hungarian Ski Association, I can’t see how I could work together with the present management in a professional way. In fact, I strongly believe that the ski sport would use my ambition, professional knowledge and determination to help the young ski generations in a much profitable way, if I am their leader. I repeat, it hasn’t been an easy decision to make. My health is NOT the reason, why I stop competing. But skiing IS my life and always will be. I can not sit back and watch how this sport is fallen appart and destroyed. Therefore, “I’ve decided to stop my sports career and candidate for the presidency of the Hungarian Ski Association on the General Meeting to be held this Sunday.

“First of all, I would like to say THANKS to my family. They have always stood by my side. Thank you, my friends, who I could always count on. And many thanks to YOU, my fans, for following and cheering for me through my whole career.”

Patrick Schweiger (AUT, 1990)

35 World Cup starts, best: 7th SG Hinterstoder 2016, winner of the Europa Cup standings in super-g in 2015

Philippe Schmid (GER, 1986)

41 World Cup starts, best: 10th SL Levi 2012

Bernhard Niederberger (SUI, 1993)

20 World Cup starts, best: 21st SL Zagreb 2015

Manuel Pleisch (SUI. 1990)

37 World Cup starts, best: 16th GS Sölden 2014, winner of the Europa Cup standings in giant slalom in 2013

Beatrice Scalvedi (SUI, 1995)

1 World Cup starts, 2nd of European Cup standings in downhill in 2016, silver medalist in downhill at Junior World Championships 2016