April 30, 2015 – The retiring stars of Nordic Combined include many that have played a key role in defining the sport. Read a summary below, including social media links about their retirement.

Jason Lamy-Chappuis (FRA) © Heinz Ruckemann

One of the most notable stars retiring is superstar Jason Lamy Chappuis (FRA) who announced his career end at the age of 28 after winning team sprint gold at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun (SWE). Lamy Chappuis earned 26 World Cup victories and 59 podiums in 178 individual starts. He also collected Olympic gold along with five World Championship gold medals (two individual, three team). With three consecutive overall World Cup victories, Lamy Chappuis entered his name into the history books of Nordic Combined. On the all-time best list, he occupies third place behind Hannu Manninen (FIN) and Ronny Ackermann (GER). Lamy Chappuis will now focus on his education to become a professional pilot.

Take a look at his medal collection here.

Two Austrian team veterans, Mario Stecher and Christoph Bieler, ended their careers. Bieler was named the new jumping coach of the Austrian team, while 37-year-old Stecher is currently promoting his autobiography “Ausdauernd erfolgreich”. In his long career, Stecher collected six Olympic team medals, eight World Championship medals including two team golds and 12 World Cup victories and 43 podiums in 267 starts. Bieler’s medal collection comprises four Olympic and two World Championships medals and six World Cup victories. With his World Cup victory in Almaty in 2013, Bieler also became the oldest athlete to win a World Cup competition at the age of 35.

View Bieler’s announcement on becoming a coach here.

USA's Bill Demong celebrates winning gold after crossing the finish in Nordic Combined Individual LH/10 KM CC during Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics © Heinz Ruckemann

Another big name retiring is Vancouver 2010 Olympic Champion Bill Demong (USA). He already focused on marketing activities for the U.S. Nordic Combined Team last season and only made select appearances on the World Cup circuit. The 35-year-old had nine individual World Cup victories and 21 podiums at 184 World Cup starts as well as two Olympic and three World Championship medals, in addition to his Liberec 2009 World Champion title.

A close friend on the World Cup circuit, Mikko Kokslien (FIN) is paying tribute to Demong and Lamy Chappuis here.

Further athletes who hung up their skis are Sebastien Lacroix (FRA) – one World Cup podium, five World Championship medals – and Nicolas Martin of the French B-team. In the Czech Republic, veterans Pavel Churavy and Tomas Slavik ended their careers with Slavik remaining involved in Nordic Combined as the new Czech member of the Nordic Combined Sub-Committee for Officials, Rules and Control. See more here.