An 18-year career
Lara Gut-Behrami announced her retirement on Friday, closing one of the most successful careers in ski racing history. The 35-year-old Swiss star competed on the World Cup circuit for 18 seasons and won races in all five disciplines, a rare achievement for any skier.
Her trophy case is deep. She won Olympic gold in the super-G at the 2022 Beijing Games and added a bronze in the giant slalom. She captured the overall World Cup title twice and won 47 World Cup races. At world championships, she took three gold medals and five more podium finishes.
She also helped Switzerland win team events and pushed her sport to new levels of professionalism. Few female skiers have matched her combination of speed and technical skill across so many seasons.
A fighter on and off the snow
Gut-Behrami's path was not smooth. Early in her career, she battled injuries and the weight of expectations after bursting onto the scene as a teenager. She took a break from racing in 2015 to reset, then returned stronger, a decision that defined the second half of her career.
Off the snow, she became one of the sport's most outspoken voices. She pushed for better scheduling, fairer prize money and more respect for female athletes. Her influence reached beyond the start gate, and younger racers often cite her as a role model.
Her comeback years were her best. After the 2015 break, she won more races than she had before it, including her two overall titles. Teammates said her work ethic and honesty set the tone for the entire Swiss team.
What she leaves behind
Gut-Behrami retires as the most successful Swiss female skier of her era. Her farewell leaves a gap in a Swiss team that has leaned on her results for years. Younger teammates will now carry the flag in speed and technical events.
She said she plans to spend time with family and stay involved in skiing in some form. Fans will remember her for her power, her precision and her refusal to give up. Her name belongs on the short list of the sport's all-time greats.