World Cup Athletes Hang Up Their Boots

What does retirement from skisport really mean? When is the right time to stop the career? What will happen in the future? Will you be happy? A thousand questions arise when it’s time to close a crucial chapter in an athlete's life.

Everyone experiences it differently, announces it at a different time and projects themselves into their new life differently and like every year, several skiers have decided to end their careers.

Let's proceed by country, where France, after having hosted wonderful world championships in Meribel/Courchevel, is losing some major names.

240 World Cup starts, 11 podiums, a Downhill vice-Olympic title, a Super-G vice-world champion title, but above all a huge esteem from his rivals, Johan Clarey has put an end to a rich career that lasted two decades.

At 42 years old, it was with a lot of emotion that the circuit veteran opened the starting gate for the last time during the finals in Andorra. "I didn't expect it to be so hard. I had a lot of emotions. I almost cried a few times before the start," smiled the French skier.

A complete career in which he may just have missed out on a victory that he often caressed with his fingertips. Despite this, Johan Clarey looks back on his career and is proud to have been among the best specialists on the planet for many years and to be not only appreciated but above all recognised by his peers. "I am happy to have had the sympathy and esteem of the other athletes. We fight like crazy all year long, against each other. But it's not only the results that count, it's also the human aspect. And having the recognition of others is a sign that I have succeeded in my career.

Another big name in women's sports is retiring after 17 years at the highest level. Tessa Worley, the long-time queen of French skiing, heads off into the sunset with two World Championship titles, two crystal globes and the undeniable title of an all-time great GS skier.

Slalom specialist Nastasia Noens and giant slalom specialist Coralie Frasse-Sombet are also ending their careers after many years on the World Cup circuit.

On the Swiss side, it was a big man who took his retirement after participating in his last races in Wengen and Kitzbuehel this winter.

At the age of 35, Beat Feuz leaves the White Circuit with four Downhill Crystal Globes, three Olympic medals including the Gold in Beijing, and three World Championships medals. In addition, he has 16 World Cup victories and 59 podiums from 217 starts.

Winner of the Super-G Globe in 2020, bronze medallist in the Alpine combined at the St. Moritz World Championships in 2017 and 12 World Cup podiums, Mauro Caviezel has rarely been spared from injury.

After trying to recover from his serious concussion two years ago in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and again being the victim of a nasty fall in Lake Louise this winter, Mauro Caviezel has also decided to retire from skiing.

Switzerland's neighbours, the Austrians were surprised by the unexpected announcement of superstar Matthias Mayer after the Bormio Super-G in December.

Two-time Olympic Super-G champion Matthias understands that his decision may come as a surprise, but the sport of competition is now behind him. He said. "I don't have enough desire, enough power. But it's my decision, I've been thinking about it for the last few days and I had already imagined such a scenario. I have a lot of good memories and I'm looking forward to what's next.

Fellow former world champion Nicole Schmidhofer joins Matthias Mayer in hanging up her competitive skis after 12 World cup podiums and 4 victories.

Other athletes are about to experience the joys of 'normal' life.

Travis Ganong (USA) and his fiancée Marie-Michelle Gagnon (CAN) are retired from competitive sport together. His teammate, Steven Nyman (USA), also called it quits after racing his last race in front of his family and friends in Aspen.

The Italian Matteo Marsaglia, after 15 years of World Cup racing, 207 starts, 2 Olympics and 5 World Championships has packed up his skis for good.

Finally, Slovenian Tina Robnik has decided to turn the page and move on to a new chapter in life.