April 30, 2010 – The end of an Olympiad is not only marked by the Olympic Games but also by the retirement of many athletes who decide to bring down the curtain on their distinguished careers and this year is no exception. The retiring stars include many that have played a key role in defining the sport of skiing over the past years.

The upcoming World Cup season 2010/2011 will take place without some major cross-country stars, such as former overall World Cup and Tour de Ski winner Virpi Kuitunen (FIN), Sweden’s Olympic champion Anna Olsson (former Dahlberg), and Olympic medalists Sara Renner (CAN) and Sabina Valbusa (ITA). Former World Cup champion René Sommerfeldt (GER) also concluded his long-term career as did Milan Sperl (CZE), Alexander Rousselet and Celine Storti (FRA), Laurence Rochat, Peter von Allmen and Reto Burgermeister (all SUI), as well as Sean Crooks (CAN).

In Ski Jumping, the retired heroes include Norwegians Roar Ljoekelsoey and Lars Bystoel (before start of season) as well as by Arttu Lappi (FIN) and Bastian Kaltenböck. With the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Oslo coming up next season, the field in Nordic Combined seems to feature more come backers than athletes retiring. At least the two accomplished veterans Felix Gottwald (AUT) and Hannu Manninen (FIN), both of whom retired previously, are planning to continue their careers to compete in Oslo.

The retirees in Alpine Skiing include many whose achievements are too numerous to detail. The list is headed by Giorgio Rocca (ITA) and Marco Büchel (LIE) both of whom made their indelible mark on the sport. They are joined in life after ski racing by Scott Macartney (USA) and Christoph Gruber (AUT). The Canadian team is losing three female racers as Emily Brydon, Geneviève Simard and Shona Rubens are all hanging up their skis, as is USA’s Kaylin Richardson. Team Austria lost two of its leaders as both Hermann Maier and Renate Götschl announced their retirements in the fall just before the start of last season.

In Freestyle Skiing, those moving on are led by the 2006 aerials Olympic champion Evelyne Leu (SUI) and a ski cross pioneer Karin Huttary (AUT), as well as the two distinguished mogul skiers Tapio Luusua and Mikko Ronkainen (both FIN).