Marlies Schild says goodbye to racing career

By Published On: September 2nd, 2014Comments Off on Marlies Schild says goodbye to racing career
Marlies Schild at the press conference announcing her retirement. GEPA/Philipp Brem

Marlies Schild at the press conference announcing her retirement. GEPA/Philipp Brem

Following weeks of speculation about Marlies Schild’s future in ski racing, the 33-year-old slalom specialist officially announced her retirement at a scheduled press conference in the Vienna UNIQA Tower earlier today.

The reasons for her decision to hang up her skis are varied, including the desire to raise a family and a series of injuries that have prevented her from racing in top form over recent seasons. Still, she claimed the silver medal in slalom at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, won two races last season, and stood on the podium seven times out of 11 total races. 

“I look at everything that will come now. Of course I’ll be there for Benni,” she said in reference to boyfriend Benjamin Raich who has committed to race at least one more season on the World Cup, “and support him because he continues to race. Our common future and family also plays a major role, and we are very happy.”

In her 14 years on the World Cup, Schild claimed two overall titles, four Olympic and seven World Championships medals, 37 race victories, and five discipline titles. The most successful slalom skier in the history of the World Cup is now looking forward to her next step in life.

Raich and Schild at today's press conference. GEPA

Raich and Schild at today’s press conference. GEPA

“I’m looking forward to a quieter time,” said Schild. “If I have learned anything in my career it is that you cannot plan everything. There are, of course, plans and desires and of course there is the greatest desire to start a family.”  

Enduring a total of five ACL tears over the course of her career, Schild was almost forced to retire in 2008 after a serious injury incurred while training on the Rettenbacher glacier just two weeks before the start of the season. Fracturing her leg in two different places after straddling a gate, it took over a year to return to competition which she eventually did at Levi in November of 2009. 

“These are very emotional moments. I am proud of Marlies for how she announced her retirement today, but also for her great career,” said Raich at the press conference.  

Schild’s presence in the race will certainly be missed at the opening slalom of the season in Levi come Nov. 15, but her younger sister Bernadette, 24, will continue to represent the family on the World Cup circuit.

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About the Author: C.J. Feehan

Christine J. Feehan is a USSA Level 300 coach who spent more than a decade training athletes at U.S. ski academies - Burke, Sugar Bowl, and Killington - before serving as Editor in Chief at Ski Racing Media through 2017. She worked for the FIS on the World Cup tour for three years and then settled into her current home in Oslo, Norway.