Vincent Kriechmayr’s future in ski racing may depend on one decision—and it is not entirely his own.
Two-time World Champion Vincent Kriechmayr has given the Austrian Ski Federation (ÖSV) an ultimatum. If ÖSV hires a specific trainer back to Kriechmayr’s team, he will continue his career.
For Austria, the stakes are clear: keeping their top men’s speed racer through the 2027 World Championships may come down to one key hire.
However, it might be an unsolvable challenge.
How does Vincent Kriechmayr feel after his latest victory?
Kriechmayr spoke with Ski Racing Media during the 2026 FIS World Cup Finals in Norway in late March.
The seasoned athlete has a reason to smile: He enjoys ski racing and the lifestyle.
At the same time, while Austrians were relieved when Kriechmayr won the World Cup downhill in Courchevel in mid-March—the first downhill victory in 23 races for the previously dominant Austrian men’s speed team—Kriechmayr seemed rather calm regarding the long-awaited victory.
The 34-year-old described his win as “nice,” but said the emotions are different now than when he was younger.
“I’m not the youngest athlete. I’ve seen a lot of things, so I think in my young age, maybe, it would be more fantastic. But now, if I don’t reach a good result, I feel frustrated—but not like in my younger years. [The victory] is nice for sure, but I’m just happy to live this life. It’s amazing to be all over the world, visiting nice countries, just skiing. For sure, I want to show my best every time, and I get frustrated when it doesn’t work as I want, but it’s a big pleasure,” Kriechmayr told Ski Racing.
What does Kriechmayr love about ski racing?
After many years in the sport, Kriechmayr seems impressively grounded, both when skiing and as a person.
What does he love the most about ski racing?
“The emotions. The emotions on the start, and also in the finish, you know? When you are on the start, you feel a lot of pressure, just trying to make a good run. It is also the emotions to … how can I say it? There are a lot of people watching you, and you don’t want to ski like an idiot. You want to show what’s possible. And so you have the pressure; you’re making your own, and also the pressure from people outside. I don’t feel this pressure but just [want] to finish in a good position. Feeling these emotions on the start and then coming across the finish line and reaching a good result. It’s just the emotions,” Kriechmayr calmly shared with a smile when describing his compassion for racing.
What are his best skiing memories?
What makes Kriechmayr one of the best speed skiers in the world?
Kriechmayr has been a strong force in men’s super-G and downhill racing for the past decade, and he is known for excellent technical skills.
Still, he kindly disagreed with Ski Racing’s proposition that many people think he has the most beautiful downhill tuck in the world during a light-hearted chat about his skiing technique in the Kvitfjell mixed zone.
“For sure, it is my own style. Everyone has his own style, and it doesn’t matter if it looks good or not. It only has to be fast. It would be nice if you say I have the fastest turn, but I am also okay with having a beautiful turn,” Kriechmayr said with a laugh.
What about his incredible feel for the surface and the terrain—how did that come about?
“I don’t know. Just as I learned it, you know, as a young kid. I’ve had fantastic coaches through my whole career, and maybe some of them showed me how to ski [this way]. Maybe that’s how they wanted it. But I think it’s my own style.”
A career built on consistency and strength
His own style certainly has led to an impressive career:
- Nine consecutive podiums in the World Cup super-G season standings (2018–2026), including winning the super-G globe in 2021
- Two podiums in the World Cup downhill season standings (2019 and 2023)
- Two World Championtitles (2021, super-G and downhill), plus two silver and one bronze medal (2019 and 2025)
- 2026 Olympic silver medal (team combined)
- 20 World Cup race victories (10 each in downhill and super-G), 43 podiums, and 239 World Cup starts
How did Kriechmayr’s season develop?
After only two World Cup podiums and an injury that kept him from racing in Kitzbühel two seasons ago, he came back impressively strong to capture the silver medal at the 2025 World Championship downhill on home snow in Saalbach. He also missed the super-G podium there by just 0.05 seconds.
During the first half of the 2026 season, he recorded three World Cup podium results: second and first in the Copper Mountain and Beaver Creek super-G races, and second place in the January Wengen downhill.
At other World Cup events, however, his performances were sometimes below what he might have hoped for.
Then, during a 10-day stretch in March, Kriechmayr reset his standing as a top-tier racer by finishing first, third, and second in the final three World Cup speed races of the season.
He also won his first Olympic medal at the 2026 Winter Games (silver in the team combined with Manuel Feller), securing a milestone result and his sixth championship medal.
Why does Kriechmayr give away his medals?
Kriechmayr’s trophy collection could have been extensive. However, the down-to-earth athlete, whose parents say he has always liked to win, gives his medals and awards to others.
The trophies do not hold the greatest value to him; experiences and emotions do.
“It’s just the emotions… The awards—I don’t need a trophy. I give them to my coaches and my service guy. I don’t need these things. For sure, it’s nice, but, yeah, that’s it.”
What will determine Kriechmayr’s future in ski racing?
What will keep Kriechmayr in ski racing next season?
At first, his answer was vague: “I’m just happy now. We will see.”
Then, during an interview with Austrian broadcaster ORF at Kvitfjell, Kriechmayr revealed he will continue ski racing if the ÖSV can hire a specific physical trainer back into his team.
This is the condition—and the pressure point—for Austria’s federation.
The person in demand: coach and physical therapist Peter Meliessnig.
Meliessnig worked closely with Kriechmayr as part of his ÖSV coaching team from 2015 until 2024, including when Kriechmayr won both world titles in 2021.
In the past, Meliessnig also assisted Austrian standouts Michael Walchhofer and Anna Veith (Fenninger).
However, two years ago, Red Bull hired Meliessnig, and the renowned physical therapist has since trained several Red Bull-sponsored athletes, including Marcel Hirscher after his knee surgery in December 2024.
Before the 2025–26 season, Meliessnig became Lindsey Vonn’s strength and conditioning coach in preparation for her comeback.
Why is Peter Meliessnig so important to Kriechmayr?
Kriechmayr confirmed his request to Ski Racing Media:
“I will continue if he’s again in my part of the trainers [coaching team], so we’ll see.”
What makes Meliessnig so special for Kriechmayr?
“You just have to ask the athletes he’s trained with. He’s pushing. I mean, he’s not thinking about coaching; he’s thinking about everything. So, just making you better. Look at Lindsey in the last one and a half years. She’s made big steps, and, for sure, he was part of her success. He’s an amazing guy, and we’ll see what happens,” Kriechmayr told Ski Racing Media at Kvitfjell.
In the interview with ORF on March 21, Kriechmayr explained further (originally in German):
“He’s an outstanding guy, exactly the kind of person you need to push through the final stretch in the summer. It’s a shame he wasn’t valued enough in the ski federation, so he quit.
“Many people have told me that I could manage with a little less training. But that’s not what I’m aiming for. If I’m going to give it my all, I want to give 100 percent,” he said, pointing to Meliessnig as the one person he needs for this process.
“He knows how much I appreciate him,” the Austrian downhiller stated, hoping his announcement on ORF serves as a message to the federation.
Will ÖSV bring the coach back?
“Peter is a great guy and a real expert. I would love to work with him. He can help the entire federation. … We’re working on it, but of course, it’s his [Meliessnig’s] personal decision,” ÖSV Alpine Director Christian Mitter said regarding Kriechmayr’s request, according to OÖNachrichten on March 22.
The OÖN also reported that ÖSV General Secretary Christian Scherer has announced plans to bring Meliessnig back.
Will Kriechmayr race at the 2027 World Championships?
Next December, it will be 16 years since Kriechmayr raced in his first World Cup competition—and 20 years since his first FIS start.
After reaching the World Championship podium five times across 2019, 2021, and 2025, the question now is whether the ÖSV can meet his condition.
If they do, Austria keeps one of the most consistent and technically skilled speed racers of his generation. If they do not, the sport may lose him sooner than many wish for.
For Kriechmayr, the decision is simple—and uncompromising.
About the Author: Bente Bjørnsen Sherlock
