After 16 World Cup seasons with 172 starts, Nicole Schmidhofer has decided to turn her back on alpine skiing. Nici will contest her last World Cup race tomorrow in Soldeu (AND), but would like to keep racing in a different way. The Styrian made it onto the podium twelve times in the World Cup, four times she was at the top of the podium. Her greatest successes include the 2017 Super-G World Champion title and the small crystal globe she won in the 2018/19 downhill season. She then broke the sound barrier of 200 km/h at the Speed Ski World Championships and set the Austrian record at 217.59 km/h. Now the time has come for the Lachtal native to say goodbye to the Ski World Cup.
“Lately I've had to ask myself more and more often whether I dare to continue pushing myself to the limit and I've noticed that I'm no longer willing to do so. My knee has developed incredibly positively and I want it to stay that way. It has only become clear to me in the past few weeks that the injury has left more marks than I thought. I can no longer drive off with such liberty and for me it no longer means taking the fullest risk. The value has also shifted for me due to the serious injury. That's why it's time for me to set my sights on new tasks and challenges and to look forward to a new chapter in my life. I have always practiced ski racing with great joy and passion and subordinated everything to my career. I have never lacked ambition and determination and these qualities will certainly help me in the next phase of my life so that I can celebrate success again, just in a different way. Exactly 16 years ago today I celebrated my World Cup debut, so I've come full circle and I look back on the World Cup time with great gratitude and my decision feels right and good.
"Many ideas about my future are currently circling in my head. On the one hand, I would be tempted to dive back into the world of speed skis and continue to experience the feeling of speed. And if I can stay with the Ski World Cup, in whatever form, I wouldn't say no either. But first I would like to finish my training as a rehabilitation trainer so that I can pass on my experiences to others. Just to show what is possible, even if no one believes in it anymore. I would also like to further expand the podcast project together with Conny Hütter and provide even more insights behind the scenes of ski racing - also off the slopes," says the 34-year-old about her further plans. "At this point I would like to take the opportunity to thank my family and friends, the Austrian Ski Association, the Fischer company, my main sponsor Baustoff + Metall and all the sponsors who have supported me. A big thank you also to my team, my trainers and supervisors, the medical team and my physiotherapists, without whom it would not have been possible to race at the highest level again.”
In 2007, Nicole Schmidhofer was crowned two-time Junior World Champion (Super-G/giant slalom) in Zauchensee and then celebrated her World Cup debut in Lenzerheide (SUI) on her 18th birthday, where she already scored her first points in Super-G with 14th place . After tearing her cruciate ligament in 2016, Schmidi fought her way back to the top of the world and celebrated one of her greatest successes in 2017 with gold in the Super-G at the World Championships in St. Moritz (SUI). She got her first World Cup victory a season later in December 2018 at her 129th World Cup race in Lake Louise (CAN). A day later, the speed specialist followed suit and celebrated her second downhill victory within 24 hours. This season, Nici dominated the fast disciplines, which was rewarded with a second place in the Super-G ranking and a downhill crystal. That wasn't enough and Nici set the Austrian record at the Speed Ski World Championships in Vars (FRA) with 217.59 km/h, which made you want more. After her severe knee injury in December 2020 in Val d'Isere (FRA), she subordinated everything to her comeback, so that she celebrated almost a year later in Lake Louise with a 15th place in the Super-G. With two more top 10 placings, Nicole Schmidhofer has proven that a lot is possible in life with a fighting spirit and willpower. Now it's time for them to start a new chapter."
Reflections from her team:
Roswitha Stadlober (ÖSV President): "With Nicole, the Austrian Ski Association loses an extraordinary personality, a team leader and a woman who is also known for her ability to think outside the box. In addition to her Super-G world championship title in St. Moritz, I was very impressed by her comeback after a serious knee injury. She proved that with a lot of motivation, discipline and the goal of being back at the start, anything is possible. Thank you very much and we wish Nicole all the best for her new chapter in life.”
Thomas Trinker (Racing Manager ÖSV Ladies Alpine Skiing): "Nici has had a decisive influence on our speed team over the years and we are losing a great athlete who brought a lot of experience and team spirit to the group. She has had great success for Austria and has played an important role in the team. She will be missed very much in the team and of course I wish her all the best and continued success for her private and professional future.”
Austrian Team Press release