"It was casual times": Ski World Champion Stephanie Venier ended her career

With gold in the Super-G and bronze in the team combination, Venier caused a sensation last winter in Saalbach-Hinterglemm - despite ongoing knee pain. "Who can say that they leave at the peak," Venier said at the press conference.

Recently, the motivation was simply lacking. Throughout April, she completely relaxed - and then began interval training again in May. "That's when I saw that it wasn't coming as easily to me anymore. The last few percent were missing. And if you're not 100 percent ready, you shouldn't be at the start," explained the visibly emotionally affected Tyrolean. The motivation "didn't really come back." Now a "weight has been lifted off her shoulders," she is "healthy out" and "ready for a new chapter in life," said the 31-year-old, who recently got engaged to her boyfriend, skier Christian Walder.

Venier Ends Career: "Cool Times, With All the Ups and Downs"

Venier especially thanked her parents, who had always supported her. Nearly 30 years ago, she started skiing in the ski area or slope where she is now retiring - supported by her father: "Now the circle is complete. I enjoyed everything. They were cool times, with all the ups and downs." The ski ace also thanked the Austrian Ski Federation (ÖSV), which provided the "best conditions."

Venier did not mention the publicly aired dispute with head coach Roland Assinger after the World Championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm. There was no criticism or even settling of scores to be heard. After the World Championships, she publicly criticized Assinger's tone. At the same time, there were also opposing reactions from runners, and the sports management around ÖSV sports director Mario Stecher confirmed Assinger in his position before the Olympic season.

Tyrolean Won Three World Cup Races

Venier bids farewell as a three-time winner of World Cup races from the big stage, standing on the World Cup podium twelve times. In 2017, she also won World Championship silver in the downhill. In terms of prize money, she collected 601,000 Swiss francs according to FIS data.

The open account with the Olympics, however, remains unsettled. In 2018, Venier did not see the downhill finish line in South Korea in her only start under the five rings. In February, the medal decisions will take place near her Tyrolean home on the Tofana in Cortina d'Ampezzo, where she achieved one of her three World Cup victories in the downhill in 2024.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.