In a significant career switch-up, Austrian skiing star Marco Schwarz has announced he will no longer compete in World Cup slalom races. The 31-year-old Carinthia, Austria, native announced his decision at a team media event in Vienna, Austria, on October 6. With slalom no longer on his docket, Schwarz will now put all his energy towards competing in giant slalom, super-G, and downhill.
“This was certainly one of the toughest decisions of my career, but now it’s clear that I will wind down my slalom career,” Schwarz explained at a press conference in Vienna, according to Austrian news outlet Weekend.
Stepping away from slalom marks the end of a long and successful career in the discipline. Schwarz has competed in slalom since 2011, participating in dozens of World Cups, 21 European Cups, nine National Championships, five World Championships, and three Olympic Games. Much of his slalom success came on the World Cup circuit, reaching the podium 14 times and winning three. His seven podiums and two victories won Schwarz the World Cup Crystal Globe in slalom in 2020-21. Schwarz also holds a bronze in slalom from the 2019 World Championships in Åre, Switzerland. His best Olympic finish in the category came at the 2026 Games in Milano-Cortina, Italy, where he placed 10th.
The decision to drop slalom comes after years of enormous physical strain. Schwarz has been competing at the highest level of alpine skiing for more than 10 years in all four major disciplines. The vast majority of skiers cannot maintain success for that long — much less in four different categories. Managing this workload has been unsurprisingly difficult for Schwarz, as preparing for each discipline takes different skills, training regimens, and physicality. By removing slalom races from his schedule, Schwarz will have more time and energy to prepare for his other races.
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Schwarz also cited previous injuries as a reason. In December 2023, Schwarz suffered a serious crash in Bormio, Italy, that left him with torn cruciate ligaments, a torn meniscus, and cartilage damage in his right knee. The injury on the Stelvio downhill course ultimately ended his season, and according to Schwarz, he never regained his former strength in slalom.
“I’m over 30 and have had a few injuries; at some point I need to recover,” the Austrian skier said in the Weekend article. “It’s better to focus than to be mediocre in all disciplines. I want to concentrate my energy so that I can win races.”
Schwarz competed in the final slalom race of his career at a 2026 World Cup in Lillehammer, Norway. He placed 19th overall.
Officially stepping away from slalom marks the end of a triumphant career for Schwarz. With the 2026-27 World Cup season quickly approaching, the Austrian can fully focus on preparing for the giant slalom, super-G, and downhill categories.
Schwarz will kick off his 2026-27 campaign with a giant slalom race at the opening World Cup in Sölden, Austria, on October 25.
