Lara Gut-Behrami, the Olympic super-G champion from Switzerland, has made hints that she might not run for reelection in Milan in 2026.
In the “Rock” course at Yanqing National Alpine Ski Centre, a ski resort in Yanqing District, Beijing 2022, the Swiss won her maiden Olympic gold medal.
After winning the gold medal at the World Championship the year before, Gut-Behrami solidified her status as the favorite by defeating Mirjam Puchner of Austria, while teammate Michelle Gisin of Switzerland took home the bronze.
It put an end to a vexing quest for an Olympic medal.
After suffering a hip injury in a training mishap, Gut-Behrami was unable to participate in Vancouver 2010.
Ultimately, she made her Olympic debut in the women’s downhill at Sochi 2014, taking home the bronze.
She placed third in the giant slalom at Pyeongchang 2018 after missing out on a medal in the super-G.
Though the women’s ski events are scheduled to take place in Cortina d’Ampezzo in 2026, Gut-Behrami doubts she will maintain her championship for long enough in her career.
Last year, at the International Ski Federation World Championships on the same course, Gut-Behrami took home gold in the giant slalom and super G events, as well as bronze in the downhill.
By the time of Milan Cortina 2026, she will be close to 35 years old.
Gut Behrami told the Swiss daily Blick, “I can see it’s not getting any easier, I can feel my age a little, I don’t think I’ll continue until 2026.”
At 16, Gut-Behrami competed in her first FIS World Cup.
Eight medals from the FIS World Championships have been won by her in total: two gold, three silver, and three bronze.
At FIS World Cup competitions, Gut-Behrami has placed 66 times on the podium, 35 of those times on the top step.
Her most recent triumph was her first in the discipline in six years, coming in the giant slalom at the American resort Killington.