NEWS
Slovenian ski jumping star announces surprise retirement
Less than two weeks before the start of the season, the 28-year-old is hanging up her skis.
Former ski flying world record holder Ema Klinec has surprisingly announced her retirement. The Slovenian made the announcement at a press conference.
The decision comes as a shock. In recent months, Klinec crowned herself overall winner of the Summer Grand Prix. As recently as late October, following the competition, she spoke of carrying her strong summer form into the winter season.
After missing the Olympic season due to health reasons, she fought her way back to the top of the sport toward the end of last winter's World Cup.
World champion and ski flying pioneer
Klinec celebrated her greatest success in 2021, becoming the first female ski jumper from Slovenia to win gold on the normal hill at the World Championships in Oberstdorf.
In March 2023, she became the first woman to fly beyond 200 meters in a ski flying competition. For a period, she held the world record with a jump of 226 meters.
Klinec already has plans for life after sports. The 28-year-old recently completed a bachelor's degree in applied psychology and now intends to focus on a master's program.
