The great Norwegian downhill ski racer Aksel Lund Svindal has confirmed he will retire from ski racing after the upcoming Alpine World Championships in Åre, Sweden, which begin next week.
The 36 year old Olympic downhill champion says the persistent right knee injuries that hampered him in the last three years are preventing him from continuing his career, he pulled out of racing at the Hahnenkamm last weekend and wont race at Garmisch in the speed races next weekend.
Svindal told Austrian TV channel ORF that “…the decision has come over the last few weeks. Now I can give it all one more time and then it’s over.”
He confirmed his decision today on his social media channels, adding that as he was smiling, he hoped it was the right decision.
Svindall is expected to race in the super-G next Wednesday, Feb. 6 and the downhill three days later on Saturday 9th at The World Championships which run from 4th – 17th February in Åre. He won both events when the Championships were last staged in Åre 12 years ago.
The Championships take place every two years are the next biggest event in Alpine skiing after the winter Olympics and this year run from 4th – 17th February in Åre.
Svindal has previously won eight world championship medals (including five golds) and four Olympic medals (two golds – one of them in the Downhill in South Korea last year) and earned the overall World Cup title twice, in 2007 and 2009. He has had 80 World Cup podiums including 36 wins.