Marko Pfeifer apparently has to fear for his place. © APA / EXPA/JOHANN GRODER

Olympic debacle: Must Austria's ski chief resign?

After three races without an Olympic medal, ÖSV head coach Marko Pfeifer faces an uncertain future for the Austrian men's ski team.

February 15, 2026

From: apa

“Now we’ll focus on the Olympics and finish the season. Then there are superiors who will certainly form an opinion,” said Pfeifer, whose contract expires at the end of the season. He stands behind his team and will take responsibility, the Carinthian emphasized. “All the skaters and coaches are doing a fantastic job, one hundred percent.”

"Others will have to decide the rest," Pfeifer added on Saturday in response to a question in the finish area in Bormio, after Stefan Brennsteiner had finished only eighth in the giant slalom as the best Austrian. "We're having a fantastic season in the giant slalom and the Super-G, and yet we're coming away empty-handed. I can't fault the skiers," Pfeifer said.

Pfeifer's chair is wobbly

But there are "nicer things" than searching for explanations for one's performance. "Ultimately, I'm in the lead, that's clear. We'll do one more slalom and then we'll see." View A report from Switzerland on Saturday stated that Pfeifer was being described as a "misappointment" by an increasing number of ÖSV athletes behind closed doors.

Not without controversy: Marko Pfeifer © APA / EXPA/ JOHANN GRODER

In the downhill, Super-G, and giant slalom, the Austrian men's team went home empty-handed from the season's highlight in Italy. Their only medal came in the team combined, where Vincent Kriechmayr and Manuel Feller secured a silver. During the World Cup season, Marco Schwarz had two victories (Giant Slalom in Alta Badia, Super-G in Livigno), Kriechmayr won the Super-G in Beaver Creek, Brennsteiner the Giant Slalom in Copper Mountain, and Feller the Slalom in Kitzbühel. A slalom is scheduled for Monday to conclude the men's alpine skiing events.