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Ski star Maria Niederndorfer: Retiring early at the age of 23!
Maria Niederndorfer, 23, is ending her skiing career due to injuries and is planning to study medicine to treat skiers' knees.
Ski star Maria Niederndorfer: Retiring early at the age of 23!
Maria Niederndorfer, an up-and-coming slalom talent from Upper Austria, unexpectedly ends her career in professional skiing at the age of 23. The decision, which she announced in an emotional Instagram post, is the result of numerous injuries that always set her back and deprived her of the opportunity to permanently assert herself in the World Cup. “The pain has dampened my fire,” she explained in this emotional message, reflecting on both the highs and lows of her ski career.
Niederndorfer, who was active in the B squad of the Austrian Ski Association, won five FIS slaloms between 2023 and 2024 and was on the verge of becoming a world leader. Despite her talent, her ambitions were repeatedly interrupted by serious injuries. In a “love letter to skiing,” she also expressed her desire to study medicine in the future with the goal of learning how to repair worn-out skiers’ knees.
Career and risk of injury in skiing
Maria Niederndorfer's decision also sheds light on the challenges that many athletes face in alpine skiing. According to current reports from the German Ski Association, the risk of injury among skiers has recently increased. An increase in injured athletes was recorded in the 2023/2024 season, with around 46,000 to 48,000 ski athletes requiring medical treatment due to injuries.
The risk of inpatient treatment due to skiing accidents remained stable at 1.73 per 1,000 skiers, which extrapolates to around 7,200 to 7,300 inpatient treatments. Additionally, the risk of knee injuries increased from 2.70 to 3.01 per 1,000 skiers, while collision accidents also increased. The proportion of collision injuries out of all skiing injuries is now 21 percent, highlighting the need for preventive measures to reduce injuries.
The DSV and the Safety in Skiing Foundation are increasingly relying on preventative measures to ensure the safety of athletes. This includes education, equipment improvements and increased safety awareness. Personalities like Maria Niederndorfer, who now wants to switch to the medical field, could make a decisive contribution to reducing injury rates in skiing and sports in general in the future.
Teammates in the ÖSV are moved by her farewell. Niederndorfer's decision to give up her career highlights how serious the consequences of injuries in professional sports can be and illustrates the fundamental desire of many athletes to take responsibility for their physical health and future.
The developments surrounding Maria Niederndorfer and the increasing number of injuries in skiing make it clear that prevention must remain a central topic in the future of alpine skiing. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop and which path the other athletes will follow.