Ski world champion Stephanie Venier.

Ski world champion: Dramatic hours during childbirth

Austria's ski world champion and former athlete Stephanie Venier recently became a mother. Now she has spoken about the dramatic birth.

28 January 2026

From: sn

2025 was a year Stephanie Venier will never forget. In February, the North Tyrolean unexpectedly became Super-G World Champion in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, and in the summer she ended her career. This was followed by a whirlwind wedding with her boyfriend, former skier Christian Walder, and then the great joy of parenthood: In December, the ski-loving couple welcomed a baby boy.

Venier has now spoken at length about her baby. In a lengthy Instagram post, the 32-year-old revealed the name of her newborn for the first time and also shared that she experienced some anxious hours during the birth. "Hello Instagram world. My name is Max. I arrived a little bit early on December 14, 2025," Venier wrote, essentially from her baby's perspective.

Stephanie Venier and her husband Christian Walder. © KEYSTONE / ALESSANDRO DELLA VALLE

"My birth was anything but easy," she continued. "My mother had an emergency C-section, and we were in the neonatal unit afterward." The young family then had to stay in the hospital longer. "We ended up spending Christmas in the hospital as a family of three – different than planned, but still beautiful in a special way."

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A post shared by STEPHI VENIER (@itsstephanievenier)

Then it continues: “I gave my parents quite a scare. Today we're doing really well. The three of us get along wonderfully, and I love my parents very, very much.” All's well that ends well: And so Stephanie Venier, her husband Christian Walder, and little Max can now fully enjoy their family happiness.