Surprising Retirement in Italian Slalom Team

Italian slalom specialist Celina Haller announced her retirement from alpine skiing on Sunday in an emotional statement.

The South Tyrolean began her farewell post on Instagram with the words "It's time to say goodbye." With photo and video sequences, the 26-year-old looked back on her career, speaking of a journey with "unforgettable highlights and painful lows."

Skiing "my life, my passion, my home"

Numerous injuries had shaped her not only physically but also mentally. "I say goodbye with a tear in my eye and a smile on my face," wrote the slalom specialist. The post also included an emotional tribute to skiing: "You were my life, my passion, and my home."

Haller made her World Cup debut at the end of 2021 and regularly competed in slalom in recent years. However, she never made it into the points.

In the Europa Cup, however, she achieved several top-10 finishes, including two fifth places. Her greatest success was arguably the Italian Junior Championship title in slalom in 2021.