Gregor Schlierenzauer ends this season early

After he was not named to the Austrian team for the upcoming Raw Air Tour in Norway by head coach Andreas Felder, Gregor Schlierenzauer has decided to end this season.

"It's disappointing that I don't get the chance to compete in the rest of the season. That's hard, because I have been working hard during the entire year and I tried to make that step. But I have to accept it. If I can't do that, then my season ends here", the 29-year-old is quoted in a release on Tuesday.

Currently, it's not clear yet, whether this decision also means that the Austrian is thinking about retirement. "I leave everything open right now. Having to end this season so suddenly now have been challenging and bitter moments for me as an athlete again. I need some distance now."

Gregor Schlierenzauer returned to the World Cup team early February after a break of more than two months, but he was not able to qualify for the Nordic Ski World Championships in Seefeld in the competitions in Lahti and Willingen.

As the Austrian Ski Association announced on Tuesday, Stefan Kraft, Clemens Aigner, Philipp Aschenwald, Manuel Fettner, Michael Hayboeck, Jan Hoerl and Daniel Huber will be competing in the upcoming World Cups in Oslo, Trondheim, Lillehammer, and Vikersund.