One last farewell

The 2019/20 season was brutally interrupted due to the corona virus outbreak, stopping the whole world of sport and beyond. Consequently, many athletes who have decided to retire were not able to properly say goodbye to the fans and celebrate their immense careers with a farewell race.

Through this article we would like to give a special mention to the main athletes - Tina Weirather and Andre Myhrer just to mention a few - that have retired and honor their impressive careers.

Tina Weirather recently announced that the 2019/20 was her last season.
After 15 years in the World Cup and 222 starts, Tina is certainly a veteran who has gone through highs and lows and endless comebacks from the too many knee injuries (7) she suffered throughout her incredible career. During these 15 years, she was able to achieve 2 Super-G titles, 41 podiums and 9 victories. Last but not least, she conquered a bronze medal during her last Olympic participation and a silver medal at the 2017 World Championships, both in Super G.

Nina Loseth has completed her last season coming back from the previous knee injury with 6 top ten results and she can boast of a total of 8 World Cup podiums including two victories. As icing on the cake, the bronze medal at the last Olympics in the team event.

Finally, Ana Drev announced in Kranjska Gora that she was putting an end to her career while she was coming back from an ACL injury and Slalom specialist Christina Ackermann decided to start a new chapter in her life after 12 years competing in the World Cup circus.

Johanna Schnarf recently announced through her social media, the decision to end her career after a year of absence while she was recovering from her last knee injury. The highlight of her career has been the two World Cup podiums in Cortina and Crans Montana and the fourth place in Super G at the last Olympics,  missing the bronze medal by 0.11 seconds,

5 Big Names leave the Men’s Tour
Peter Fill (ITA) was the first one to retire throughout the season, and the only one who was able to organize a small farewell celebration after the Downhill of Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER). The Italian speed veteran celebrated 350 starts in Bormio last season and announced his retirement in Kitzbuehel, concluding his career with 3 discipline globes and three World Cup victories.

It was in the air and now it’s official. After 250 starts, most of which in Slalom, Andre Myhrer (SWE) decided it’s time to retire. The 2018 Olympic Gold Medalist in Slalom, can look back at his career with no regrets, having achieved 30 podiums, 8 victories and claimed the 2012 Slalom World Cup title. Finally, after finishing second in Val d’Isère last season, Myhrer holds the record for being the oldest athlete (36 years and 338 days) to achieve a Slalom World Cup podium.

The men’s tour has lost another Swede at the end of last season, giant slalom ace Matts Olsson. With one World Cup victory and four podiums, he has been the strongest Swedish Giant Slalom skier of the last years, often challenging the best ones for a spot on the podium.

Also Fritz Dopfer (GER) decided that after 174 World Cup starts, 9 podiums, a 2nd place at the 2015 World Ski Championships and 4 Winter Olympic Games starts, it was time to say goodbye and enjoy a new chapter of his life!

Last but not least, a special mention goes to Dustin Cook (CAN). After a tough and troubled season and 12 years on the national team, the 31-year-old from Ottawa was planning to race his last Super G in Kvitfjell (NOR), which was then cancelled. Cook had his strongest Super G season in 2015, where he achieved his only World Cup victory in Meribel (FRA), a further podium in Kvitfjell and a silver medal at the World Championships in Vail / Beaver Creek (USA).

FIS would like to thank once again these great champions for what they have contributed to the skiing world in the last decades. Give them a shout-out on their social profiles to praise them for their achievements!