Asa Ando competed in her last World Cup race in Åre. © ANSA / PONTUS LUNDAHL

Japan's best skier ends her career

Asa Ando competed 101 times in the Ski World Cup. Now the Japanese skier has ended her career – at the peak of her achievements.

March 18, 2026

From: cst

In October 2014, Asa Ando, ​​then 19 years old, made her World Cup debut. Although the Japanese skier didn't finish the giant slalom in Sölden, it marked the beginning of a long career in the Ski World Cup. A hundred more races followed, along with four Olympic appearances.

This season, Ando, ​​who competed in slalom and giant slalom, achieved some of her best results. She finished 16th in both the slalom races in Gurgel and Courchevel. Her only better result was 15th in Semmering in 2020. The Asian skier has accumulated a total of 49 points in the current World Cup season, the same number as in 2020/21.

Ando's World Cup career came to an end this past weekend in Åre. "There were many great moments, but also many disappointments and challenges – especially in recent years. The fact that I was still able to pursue my dream in the World Cup means everything to me," Ando wrote in a farewell post on social media. "Traveling the world and being able to share this journey with so many people from different countries is something I will never forget," the Japanese skier added.