Lara Gut-Behrami confirms retirement, bringing clarity to months of uncertainty

After months of speculation about whether she would attempt one final comeback, Lara Gut-Behrami has confirmed that her remarkable career has come to an end.

The Swiss superstar, one of the most decorated alpine skiers of her generation, announced her retirement after taking time to reflect following the serious knee injury that prematurely ended her Olympic season.

In a statement released by Swiss-Ski, Gut-Behrami explained that while her passion for skiing remains unchanged, she no longer feels the need to push her body through the demands of elite competition.

The 35-year-old leaves the sport with a legacy few athletes can match. Across nearly two decades on the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup, Gut-Behrami established herself as one of the most versatile racers in history. She captured two Overall Crystal Globes (2015/16 and 2023/24) and seven discipline Crystal Globes (six in Super G and one in Giant Slalom). Her career also includes 48 World Cup victories, 101 World Cup podiums and 395 World Cup starts, underlining her remarkable consistency and longevity at the highest level.

Her achievements extend far beyond the World Cup. Gut-Behrami won one Olympic gold medal and two Olympic bronze medals, while at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships she claimed two gold, four silver and three bronze medals, cementing her place among the sport’s all-time greats.

From her breakthrough as a teenager – with the unforgettable image of crossing the finish line after crashing to secure her first World Cup podium in St. Moritz in 2008 – to becoming one of the defining athletes of modern alpine skiing, the Swiss racer built a career characterised by longevity, consistency and excellence across downhill, super G and giant slalom.

Her retirement marks the end of an era for Swiss skiing and for the Women’s World Cup, where she spent years competing at the highest level against the sport’s greatest names. Only Vreni Schneider finished her career with more World Cup victories among Swiss women, with Gut-Behrami retiring second on the nation’s all-time list.

Although her final season was cut short by injury, Gut-Behrami’s influence on alpine skiing extends far beyond her results. She leaves behind a career that has inspired a generation of athletes and helped shape one of the strongest eras in Women’s World Cup racing.