Swiss ski ace has ended his career. © Instagram

Skiing retirement: In Kitzbühel he gained notoriety

After the end of the season, the Swiss ski team announces a high-profile retirement. A former podium finisher has had enough after a memorable career.

09 April 2025

From: det

It takes a long search to find Urs Kryenbühl's last World Cup appearance. The last time the Swiss downhill skier competed in the top ski racing series was on December 29, 2022. Now it's clear: That Super-G in Bormio was the last World Cup race for Kryenbühl, who finished on the podium three times in his career, twice in third place and once in second place.

Kryenbühl has been one of the most talented downhill skiers in Switzerland in recent years, but his career has also been marked by a string of injuries. The now 31-year-old achieved notoriety in Kitzbühel in January 2021. On the world's most dangerous downhill run, Kryenbühl suffered a brutal crash at a speed of 140 km/h.

Kryenbühl's brutal crash in Kitzbühel. © APA / HELMUT FOHRINGER

The force of the impact was so enormous that the Swiss skier's skis broke in two. Kryenbühl himself hit his head on the rock-hard piste and suffered injuries from head to toe. These included a concussion, a broken collarbone, and a torn cruciate ligament in his right knee. Despite these serious injuries, Kryenbühl later said: "I was lucky, because things could have been much worse."

One serious injury after another

The Swiss fought back from this shock, but in December 2022, he suffered another blow: During his last World Cup appearance to date in Bormio, he tore his cruciate ligament. Last season, Kryenbühl wanted to return to the competition, but suffered another complex knee injury during training in Beaver Creek. Therefore, the Swiss has now decided to call it a day. Above all, his cheerful nature will be missed at the Ski World Cup.