Austrian speed skier Lena Wechner recently took to Instagram to announce her retirement from competitive skiing at just 25 years old. The announcement comes after the Finkenberg native was left off the Austrian Ski Association roster for the upcoming season.
“For so long, this sport was my passion, my daily life, and a huge part of who I am. Letting go isn’t easy, but I feel that the time has come for a new chapter,” Wechner said.
A Childhood Dream
For Wechner, professional skiing was a childhood dream come true. She spent her youth on the snow, doing everything she could to compete at the highest level.
“For that little girl named Lena, there was only one goal. One wish. One dream,” she wrote in her post. “I gave everything for that dream. My entire childhood, my youth, and countless years of hard work. Every day, every decision, and every sacrifice was dedicated to that single goal.”
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Wechner made her first FIS event start in 2016 at a race in Pass Thurn, Austria. She was only 16 at the time, and it took her multiple years of skiing before she found her footing in FIS events. But she eventually found the podium in December 2018, where she placed second at a race in Val Gardena, Italy. She also made her European Cup debut earlier that year.
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Wechner’s Biggest Moments
Wechner’s biggest victory came in 2021 at the World Junior Championships in Bansko, Bulgaria, where she took the gold in Super G. In 2023, she made her World Cup debut in Val-d’Isère, France, and secured an impressive 18th-place finish in Super G. She would go on to make 13 total World Cup starts, but her debut in 2023 would stand as her career-best result.
Wechner also made her mark in downhill. In January 2022, the Austrian achieved her first European Cup podium in the downhill with a third-place finish in Saint Anton, Austria. She followed it up in 2023 with another third-place finish at a European Cup in Narvik, Norway.
Wechner’s Final Season
In her final season of competition, the 25-year-old saw five total podiums: a third place in Super G at a European Cup in Saint Anton am Arlberg, Austria, a Super G win at a race in Saint Lambrecht, Austria, and a second-place finish in downhill at the Austrian National Championships in Reiteralm.
Despite her five podium finishes in the 2025-26 season, when the Austrian Ski Association named its 2026-27 squad, Wechner had unfortunately not made the cut.
A Heartfelt “Thank You”
While she is retiring at a young age, Wechner said that neither health, physical condition, nor team issues were the reason for her stepping away.
“Health or the team were not decisive factors in my decision,” Wechner said in an interview with Austrian magazine Kronen Zeitung. “Everything would have continued as before. Over the past few months, I’ve simply realized that besides life as a professional skier, there are other aspects that can bring me joy.”
While Wechner’s competitive skiing career may be over, she took time to thank those who helped her throughout her career.
“I offer my heartfelt thanks to all the equipment suppliers, sponsors, coaches, technicians, physios, teammates, friends, and companions who supported me on this journey,” she wrote in her announcement. “And above all, I thank my parents. Mom and Dad, none of this would have been possible without you. Thank you for always being by my side, making everything possible, and supporting me in every situation.”
