Lara Gut-Behrami ends career: Swiss ski legend steps down

In the following years, Gut-Behrami established herself as a fixture in the speed disciplines. Her successes and her consistency made her one of the most notable athletes on the circuit for a long time. On the World Cup calendar, venues such as Cortina d'Ampezzo and Garmisch-Partenkirchen were also among her recurring stages.

Comeback and final phase

With her retirement, Swiss skiing loses a defining athlete. The news of her departure came at a time when the upcoming season was being prepared. An official farewell event was not initially announced.

The Keystone agency had reported on the impending decision in the days before. Confirmation by the two Swiss broadcasters finally gave the report definitive certainty.

In the public perception, Gut-Behrami was long considered an athlete who stood out through willpower and comeback qualities. After her form crisis around 2020, she managed time and again to build on earlier performances and achieve new successes.

Significance for Swiss skiing

For women's alpine ski racing, the departure means the loss of a constant over more than a decade. The coming World Cup seasons will take place without the experienced Swiss woman.

The news is part of a series of departures of experienced female athletes in recent years. Other greats such as Anna Veith had also left the skiing circuit before.

The timing of the announcement falls in the summer months, when season preparations are underway. This gives those responsible in the Swiss Ski Association time to manage the sporting transition.

Overall, the Swiss sporting public looks back on a career marked by great successes and remarkable comebacks. Attention now turns to how alpine skiing in Switzerland will be set up without Lara Gut-Behrami.