Austrian Super-G World Champion Stephanie Venier Retires Ahead of Olympics

Stephanie Venier, the 31-year-old Austrian Super-G world champion, has announced her immediate retirement from professional skiing, citing health risks and dissatisfaction with conditions within the Austrian women's team. Venier, who won her first senior gold medal at the 2025 Saalbach World Championships and earned three World Cup wins along with 12 podium finishes during her career, expressed that the physical toll, especially recurring knee problems, made continuing too risky. She criticized the management style of Austrian women's team head coach Roland Assinger, which contributed to her decision. Having competed in the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics and missing the 2022 Beijing Games, Venier stated that despite the upcoming Milano-Cortina Olympics, it was the right time to retire while still at the peak of her career. Venier celebrated a successful career with numerous top-ten finishes and medals, including a recent team bronze with Katharina Truppe, and emphasized she leaves the sport healthy and fulfilled. She is now ready to move on to the next chapter of her life beyond competitive skiing.