Ski star celebrates dream wedding. © Instagram / Steffi Oberhauser/JFK Feichter

Ski wedding: Austria's tragic World Cup hero marries

Manuel Feller recently married, and now wedding bells are ringing for the next star of Austria's ski team. A star who has been through a lot, especially at the World Championships.

June 01, 2025

From: det

While he had some bad luck in his game – that is, on the slopes – last season, especially at the World Championships on home soil, Stefan Brennsteiner is lucky in his personal life: This weekend, Austria's giant slalom specialist married his longtime girlfriend, Denise. It was a dream ceremony in the heart of the Alps, attended by numerous teammates, including Manuel Feller, Marco Schwarz, and Johannes Strolz.

"Thank you to our families and friends who made this day so special," Brennsteiner wrote on Instagram alongside some wedding photos. The 33-year-old's private happiness is now complete, after he and his daughter Denise became parents for the first time two years ago.

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Brennsteiner has had a tremendous season, finishing seventh in the giant slalom and making it onto the podium once, finishing third in the World Cup. But the home World Championships, when Brennsteiner became Austria's tragic figure, are also remembered.

Stunned after World Cup drama

The giant slalom skier was in top form at the time and was one of the biggest hopes for a medal. But then, after just a few seconds of skiing, something strange happened: During a left turn, his outside ski suddenly and seemingly for no reason came loose and slid down the valley. Brennsteiner's dream of his first World Championship medal vanished in a matter of milliseconds.

Brennsteiner after his World Cup exit. © AFP / FABRICE COFFRINI

The images of the Austrian standing at the edge of the slope, stunned and staring blankly, no longer able to comprehend the world, touched the skiing scene – also because Brennsteiner had finished an unfortunate fourth place twice at the World Championships in France two years earlier (in the giant slalom and the team event). Despite the drama, Brennsteiner was soon able to laugh again – and has now privately celebrated a victory that is perhaps more beautiful than any medal.