{"id":1836205,"date":"2026-03-20T04:34:48","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T01:34:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1836205"},"modified":"2026-03-20T04:34:48","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T01:34:48","slug":"ski-racer-announces-immediate-retirement-given-a-2nd-lease-on-life-im-not-willing-to-risk-that","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1836205","title":{"rendered":"Ski Racer Announces Immediate Retirement: \u201cGiven a 2nd Lease on Life\u2014I\u2019m Not Willing to Risk That\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_396076\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-396076\" style=\"width: 1320px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-396076 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAGcAQMAAABz\/4MdAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADdJREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T20KP6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHgZglwAAURyZXoAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"412\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2650.jpeg?resize=640%2C412&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2650.jpeg?w=1320&amp;ssl=1 1320w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2650.jpeg?resize=300%2C193&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2650.jpeg?resize=1200%2C773&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2650.jpeg?resize=768%2C495&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2650.jpeg?resize=600%2C386&amp;ssl=1 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"412\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-396076\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2650.jpeg?resize=640%2C412&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"412\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-396076\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Niels Hintermann made his World Cup debut in Lake Louise in 2015 and claimed his first victory in Kvitfjell, Norway, in 2022. | Image: Swiss Ski Association<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-2 ai-viewport-3 ai-insert-2-85019313\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-2-85019313\" data-insertion-no-dbg data-code=\"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\" data-block=\"2\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-1 ai-insert-1-60879387\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-1-60879387\" data-insertion-no-dbg data-code=\"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\" data-block=\"1\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>In a decision that stunned the alpine skiing world, Niels Hintermann announced his immediate retirement last week, citing the lasting physical and psychological impact of the cancer he overcame just last year. <\/strong>The 30-year-old Swiss speed specialist revealed his decision after withdrawing from the downhill in Courchevel, France, on Friday, March 13. However subsequently it was announced, that he will hold a formal farewell run at the World Cup Finals in Kvitfjell Norway, on Saturday, March 21.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Related: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/tragic-reason-swiss-ski-racer-is-missing-24-25-world-cup-season\/\"><em><strong>Tragic Reason Swiss Ski Racer is Missing 2024-25 World Cup Season<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>In a live pre-race interview at Courchevel, the Swiss ski racer announced he would not start.<\/strong> \u201cThe reason is simple: I\u2019m done skiing.\u201d The seasoned speed specialist announced that Crans-Montana was \u2014in hindsight \u2014 his last race, and admitted: \u201cI\u2019m no longer willing to risk my life the way I should.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cI have been given a second lease on life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Nils Hintermann<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Hintermann\u2019s retirement comes little more than a year after he was diagnosed with lymph node cancer in October 2024, forcing him to miss the entire 2024\u201325 World Cup season.\u00a0<\/strong>At the time, the Zurich native had discovered a lump in his neck during summer training in South America. The diagnosis required an intensive treatment plan, including chemotherapy and radiation, though doctors were optimistic about recovery.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_396075\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-396075\" style=\"width: 1320px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-396075 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAGbAQMAAABu+rOlAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADdJREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T+1jDKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALgBggsAAdmW\/L8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"411\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2651.jpeg?resize=640%2C411&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2651.jpeg?w=1320&amp;ssl=1 1320w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2651.jpeg?resize=300%2C193&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2651.jpeg?resize=1200%2C771&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2651.jpeg?resize=768%2C493&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2651.jpeg?resize=600%2C385&amp;ssl=1 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"411\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-396075\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2651.jpeg?resize=640%2C411&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"411\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-396075\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Niels Hintermann claimed 3 World Cup victories during his career. | Image: Swiss Ski Association<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>That optimism proved justified.<\/strong> By 2025, Hintermann had beaten the disease and returned to skiing\u2014completing what many saw as a remarkable comeback.\u00a0But the experience left a lasting impact. \u201cI noticed in Garmisch [Germany] that I was having one panic attack after another. I tried everything, with hypnosis and so forth, I felt really good, but as soon as I stood in the starting gate, my body refused.\u201d He described the panic attacks vividly, stating his whole body would shake and horror scenarios would run through his head. \u201cI am \u00a0not prepared to risk it all anymore,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Related: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/all-swiss-podium-at-downhill-in-garmisch-partenkirchen-germany\/\"><em><strong>All Swiss Podium at Downhill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Downhill skiing is widely regarded as the most dangerous discipline in alpine racing, where hesitation can be as risky as recklessness.<\/strong> For Hintermann, that reality became impossible to ignore after his return. \u201cIf you don\u2019t go full throttle in a downhill, it gets dangerous,\u201d he explained.\u00a0Yet, physically and mentally, that commitment was no longer there.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hintermann retires with three World Cup victories and seven podiums from 106 starts, including two downhill wins in Kvitfjell, Norway, in 2022 and 2024.<\/strong> His breakthrough came in 2017, when he claimed a surprise victory in the combined at Wengen, Switzerland.<\/p>\n<p><strong>His announcement was met with an outpouring of support from other ski racers.<\/strong> USA\u2019s Steve Nyman wrote: \u2018Bravo Big Man! I still owe you \ud83c\udf7b\u201d\u2014we hope he delivers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Niels Hintermann will hold his farewell run in Kvitfjell at the World Cup Finals where he claimed his first career victory\u2014a fitting farewell.<\/strong> FIS offered him this opportunity since he for one earned the spot, ranking 14th at the end of the season, but also to give him the chance to go out on his own terms.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Beyond results, his career will be remembered for resilience\u2014first as a late-blooming speed specialist, and ultimately for his return from cancer.<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_396074\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-396074\" style=\"width: 1320px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-396074 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAGSAQMAAABJ9eJtAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADZJREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T20Hb6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA4DF\/MgABeEVv2QAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"402\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2652.jpeg?resize=640%2C402&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2652.jpeg?w=1320&amp;ssl=1 1320w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2652.jpeg?resize=300%2C188&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2652.jpeg?resize=1200%2C754&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2652.jpeg?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2652.jpeg?resize=768%2C482&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2652.jpeg?resize=600%2C377&amp;ssl=1 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"402\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-396074\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2652.jpeg?resize=640%2C402&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"402\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-396074\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Niels Hintermann competed for nine seasons on the World Cup circuit. | Image: Swiss Ski Association<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-2 ai-viewport-3 ai-insert-4-59811540\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-4-59811540\" data-insertion-no-dbg 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data-selector=\".ai-insert-3-95102959\" 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>Niels Hintermann made his World Cup debut in Lake Louise in 2015 and claimed his first victory in Kvitfjell, Norway, in 2022. | Image: Swiss Ski Association In a decision that stunned the alpine skiing world, Niels Hintermann announced his immediate retirement last week, citing the lasting physical and psychological impact of the cancer he [&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-1836205","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\/1836205","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=1836205"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1836205\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1836205"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1836205"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1836205"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}