{"id":1773339,"date":"2026-02-16T05:15:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T02:15:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1773339"},"modified":"2026-02-16T05:15:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T02:15:13","slug":"the-last-starting-gate-ski-racer-aj-ginnis-to-close-career-with-final-olympic-start","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1773339","title":{"rendered":"The Last Starting Gate: Ski Racer AJ Ginnis to Close Career With Final Olympic Start"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_253636\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-253636\" style=\"width: 1170px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-253636 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAGmAQMAAADWHqfWAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADhJREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T20MH6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACeBoWGAAHvr1+UAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt=\"AJ Ginnis\" width=\"640\" height=\"422\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/70A29AA8-B183-4009-B7A5-E6248C8BE5B7-min.jpeg?resize=640%2C422&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/70A29AA8-B183-4009-B7A5-E6248C8BE5B7-min.jpeg?w=1170&amp;ssl=1 1170w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/70A29AA8-B183-4009-B7A5-E6248C8BE5B7-min.jpeg?resize=300%2C198&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/70A29AA8-B183-4009-B7A5-E6248C8BE5B7-min.jpeg?resize=768%2C507&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/70A29AA8-B183-4009-B7A5-E6248C8BE5B7-min.jpeg?resize=600%2C396&amp;ssl=1 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"422\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-253636\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/70A29AA8-B183-4009-B7A5-E6248C8BE5B7-min.jpeg?resize=640%2C422&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"AJ Ginnis\" width=\"640\" height=\"422\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-253636\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">US\/Greek skier AJ Ginnis celebrating the first Greek World Championship medal | Picture: AJ Ginnis Instagram Page<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-2 ai-viewport-3 ai-insert-2-13864676\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-2-13864676\" data-insertion-no-dbg data-code=\"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\" data-block=\"2\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-1 ai-insert-1-61833641\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-1-61833641\" data-insertion-no-dbg data-code=\"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\" data-block=\"1\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>Greek-American alpine skier AJ Ginnis will push out of the Olympic start gate one final time tomorrow, February not to chase a result, but to close the chapter on a career defined by resilience, reinvention, and history-making moments for Greece.<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Related: <em><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/flying-kangaroos-swirling-greeks-and-a-us-trophy-bonanza-fis-world-cup-weekend-recap\/\">Flying Kangaroos, Swirling Greeks, and a U.S. Trophy Bonanza\u2014FIS World Cup Weekend Recap<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>In an emotional message shared on social media, Ginnis revealed that complications from his most recent knee surgery will not allow him to compete at the level elite slalom demands. <\/strong>\u201cTomorrow isn\u2019t about the clock or the results,\u201d he wrote. \u201cIt\u2019s about gratitude. It\u2019s about respect for the sport that shaped my life.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_368030\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-368030\" style=\"width: 1440px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-368030 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAMgAQMAAACJaEE6AAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAFZJREFUeNrtwYEAAAAAw6D5U1\/hAFUBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACvAf0gAAHNCW\/DAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"800\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0599.jpeg?resize=640%2C800&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0599.jpeg?w=1440&amp;ssl=1 1440w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0599.jpeg?resize=240%2C300&amp;ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0599.jpeg?resize=960%2C1200&amp;ssl=1 960w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0599.jpeg?resize=768%2C960&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0599.jpeg?resize=1229%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1229w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0599.jpeg?resize=600%2C750&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0599.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"800\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-368030\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0599.jpeg?resize=640%2C800&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"800\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-368030\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">AJ Ginnis had joined Van Deer RedBull for the 2025-26 season. | Image: Van Deer RedBull<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Rather than attacking the gates in full race mode, Ginnis has been granted the opportunity to take one ceremonial final start at the Olympic Games\u2014sliding down the course on his terms, on the sport\u2019s biggest stage.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Born in Athens to a Greek father and American mother, Alexandros Ioannis \u201cAJ\u201d Ginnis learned to ski on Mount Parnassos before moving to Austria at age 12 and later to Vermont to attend Green Mountain Valley School.<\/strong> At 17, he joined the U.S. Ski Team and raced under the star-spangled banner for several seasons. But a string of injuries resulted in Ginnis being dropped from the national team in 2020. Due to the funding challenges of being an independent skier, Ginnis made the pivotal decision to represent Greece in the 2020\u201321 season. The move would rewrite Greek ski history.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_89451\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-89451\" style=\"width: 696px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"wp-image-89451 size-full lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAGRAQMAAADPYZDDAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADVJREFUeNrtwQEBAAAAgiD\/r25IQAEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABwYX7hAAHeahEWAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt=\"AJ Ginnis (Vouliagmeni, Greece) grabbed his first U.S. Alpine Championship title in slalom at Sugarloaf, Maine on Sunday. pc; Getty\" width=\"640\" height=\"401\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/aj-e1771218674184.png?resize=640%2C401&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/aj-e1771218674184.png?w=696&amp;ssl=1 696w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/aj-e1771218674184.png?resize=600%2C376&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/aj-e1771218674184.png?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/aj-e1771218674184.png?resize=300%2C188&amp;ssl=1 300w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"401\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"wp-image-89451 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/aj-e1771218674184.png?resize=640%2C401&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"AJ Ginnis (Vouliagmeni, Greece) grabbed his first U.S. Alpine Championship title in slalom at Sugarloaf, Maine on Sunday. pc; Getty\" width=\"640\" height=\"401\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-89451\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">AJ Ginnis used to race for Team USA. Here in Maine in 2017. | Image: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-2 ai-viewport-3 ai-insert-4-62788969\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-4-62788969\" data-insertion-no-dbg data-code=\"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\" data-block=\"4\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-1 ai-insert-3-73536647\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-3-73536647\" data-insertion-no-dbg data-code=\"PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0nY29kZS1ibG9jayBjb2RlLWJsb2NrLTMnIHN0eWxlPSdtYXJnaW46IDhweCBhdXRvOyB0ZXh0LWFsaWduOiBjZW50ZXI7IGRpc3BsYXk6IGJsb2NrOyBjbGVhcjogYm90aDsnPgo8c2NyaXB0IGFzeW5jIHNyYz0iaHR0cHM6Ly9wYWdlYWQyLmdvb2dsZXN5bmRpY2F0aW9uLmNvbS9wYWdlYWQvanMvYWRzYnlnb29nbGUuanM\/Y2xpZW50PWNhLXB1Yi04MDQ2MzU3NTk4MTA4NzYyIgogICAgIGNyb3Nzb3JpZ2luPSJhbm9ueW1vdXMiPjwvc2NyaXB0Pgo8IS0tIEJlbG93IGZpcnN0IGltYWdlIC0tPgo8aW5zIGNsYXNzPSJhZHNieWdvb2dsZSIKICAgICBzdHlsZT0iZGlzcGxheTppbmxpbmUtYmxvY2s7d2lkdGg6NzI4cHg7aGVpZ2h0OjkwcHgiCiAgICAgZGF0YS1hZC1jbGllbnQ9ImNhLXB1Yi04MDQ2MzU3NTk4MTA4NzYyIgogICAgIGRhdGEtYWQtc2xvdD0iMTA3NzQ1NjIxNCI+PC9pbnM+CjxzY3JpcHQ+CiAgICAgKGFkc2J5Z29vZ2xlID0gd2luZG93LmFkc2J5Z29vZ2xlIHx8IFtdKS5wdXNoKHt9KTsKPC9zY3JpcHQ+PC9kaXY+Cg==\" data-block=\"3\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>In 2021, he became the first Greek skier ever to score World Cup points.<\/strong> In February 2023, he stunned the slalom world by delivering Greece\u2019s first-ever World Cup podium in Chamonix. Two weeks later, he claimed Greece\u2019s first Alpine World Championship medal: a silver in slalom at the 2023 World Championships in Courchevel, France.<\/p>\n<ul id=\"attachment_253634\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 1170px\">\n<li><strong>Related: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/2023-alpine-world-championships-wraps-up-with-greece-making-history-at-mens-slalom\/\"><strong><em>2023 Alpine World Championships Wraps Up With Greece Making History at Men\u2019s Slalom<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>For a country not traditionally associated with alpine skiing success, Ginnis became a symbol of possibility. <\/strong>His new home nation is bidding farewell to its most successful ski racer with appreciation and respect.\u00a0\u201cFor us at the Hellenic Olympic Committee, the athlete\u2019s health is of greater value than medals,\u201d said Hellenic Olympic Committee President Isidoros Kouvelos in a statement, confirming that Ginnis will not officially compete.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_253634\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-253634\" style=\"width: 1170px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-253634 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAGoAQMAAADsFMamAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADhJREFUeNrtwYEAAAAAw6D5U9\/gBFUBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADwDIYoAAE1L75dAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt=\"Slalom Podium\" width=\"640\" height=\"424\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/FE202A33-8AFE-4B9D-913E-5E5E6BEA3EA3-min.jpeg?resize=640%2C424&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/FE202A33-8AFE-4B9D-913E-5E5E6BEA3EA3-min.jpeg?w=1170&amp;ssl=1 1170w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/FE202A33-8AFE-4B9D-913E-5E5E6BEA3EA3-min.jpeg?resize=300%2C199&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/FE202A33-8AFE-4B9D-913E-5E5E6BEA3EA3-min.jpeg?resize=768%2C509&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/FE202A33-8AFE-4B9D-913E-5E5E6BEA3EA3-min.jpeg?resize=600%2C398&amp;ssl=1 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"424\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-253634\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/FE202A33-8AFE-4B9D-913E-5E5E6BEA3EA3-min.jpeg?resize=640%2C424&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Slalom Podium\" width=\"640\" height=\"424\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-253634\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The 2023 World Championship Men\u2019s Slalom Podium: 1st Henrik Kristoffersen, 2nd AJ Ginnis, 3rd Alex Vinatzer | Picture: Henrik Kristoffersen Instagram Page<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>During his career, Ginnis suffered six major knee injuries\u2014three ACL tears, multiple meniscus tears, and an MCL tear\u2014across both knees.<\/strong> He has undergone numerous surgeries and rehabilitation cycles, including stem cell treatments. He missed the 2022 Olympic Winter Games because of injury. The 2024-25 season was derailed again after fracturing an osteophyte\u2014an abnormal bone growth\u2014in his knee during fitness training. Another surgery followed and recovery proved more complicated than expected. \u201cIt\u2019s worse than expected,\u201d he said earlier this season. He gave every effort to come back for the 2025-26 season but the hope of returning for one more competitive Olympic run ultimately gave way to medical reality.<\/p>\n<p><strong>His announcement on social media has been met by an outpouring of love and support from the ski racing world.<\/strong> Australian speed specialist Greta Small wrote, \u201cAJ you\u2019re a pioneer! Sending love &amp; light for your final run.\u201d Alex Vinatzer called Ginnis a \u201cGreat skier, even greater person.\u201d Albert Popov thanked him for \u201cthe great moments together, in and out of the life of a skier. Be proud and wish you all the best in your next chapter FRIEND.\u201d U.S. ski racer Steven Nyman wrote, \u201c<span class=\"_ap3a _aaco _aacu _aacx _aad7 _aade\" dir=\"auto\">Take a bow and enjoy the moment AJ.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_391184\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-391184\" style=\"width: 860px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-391184 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAIyAQMAAABhAekeAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAENJREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T20LL6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN4GsdIAAS+C9hIAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"562\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2719.jpeg?resize=640%2C562&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2719.jpeg?w=860&amp;ssl=1 860w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2719.jpeg?resize=300%2C263&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2719.jpeg?resize=768%2C674&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2719.jpeg?resize=600%2C527&amp;ssl=1 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"562\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-391184\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2719.jpeg?resize=640%2C562&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"562\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-391184\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A sample of supportive messages from athletes from around the globe. | Image: AJ Ginnis Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"html-div x14z9mp x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x9f619 xjbqb8w x78zum5 x15mokao x1ga7v0g x16uus16 xbiv7yw x1xmf6yo x12nagc x1n2onr6 x1plvlek xryxfnj x1c4vz4f x2lah0s xdt5ytf xqjyukv x1qjc9v5 x1oa3qoh x1nhvcw1\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>Instead of a final full-gas slalom attack, Ginnis will take a symbolic final start\u2014a farewell at the Olympic Games, the stage every ski racer dreams of.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Related: <em><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/2024-25-world-cup-season-ends-prematurely-for-greek-american-ski-racer-aj-ginnis\/\">2024-25 World Cup Season Ends Prematurely for Greek-American Ski Racer AJ Ginnis<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>For Greek skiing, for his family, and for a career that refused to follow a straight line, it is a fitting ending.<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_391185\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-391185\" style=\"width: 1166px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-391185 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAIcAQMAAABcp41YAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAEFJREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T20ND6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAB4MarcAAEnzr3cAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"540\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2720.jpeg?resize=640%2C540&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2720.jpeg?w=1166&amp;ssl=1 1166w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2720.jpeg?resize=300%2C253&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2720.jpeg?resize=768%2C647&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2720.jpeg?resize=600%2C506&amp;ssl=1 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"540\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-391185\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2720.jpeg?resize=640%2C540&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"540\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-391185\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">AJ Ginnis is retiring from competitive ski racing. | Image: AJ Ginnis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-2 ai-viewport-3 ai-insert-4-75779356\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-4-75779356\" data-insertion-no-dbg 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data-selector=\".ai-insert-3-28222396\" data-insertion-no-dbg data-code=\"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\" data-block=\"3\"><\/div>\n<p><!-- CONTENT END 1 -->\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>US\/Greek skier AJ Ginnis celebrating the first Greek World Championship medal | Picture: AJ Ginnis Instagram Page Greek-American alpine skier AJ Ginnis will push out of the Olympic start gate one final time tomorrow, February not to chase a result, but to close the chapter on a career defined by resilience, reinvention, and history-making moments [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,267],"class_list":["post-1773339","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-snowbrains-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1773339","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1773339"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1773339\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1773339"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1773339"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1773339"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}