Gold Medal Olympic Skier Ted Ligety Announces Retirement: ‘I’ve Given Everything I Had To This Sport…It’s Time To Be With My Family’
Two-time Gold medalist and four-time Olympian skier Ted Ligety is hanging up the skis, at least professionally.
Ligety announced in an Instagram post his retirement from racing.
“Retirement!” Ligety said. “Next week the Cortina World Championship GS will be my last race. I’ve given everything I had to this sport and I am grateful for everything ski racing has given to me in return. I love this sport, and I’ve had so much fun racing World Cup for the last 17 years. I’ve achieved every childhood dream of winning Olympic gold medals, World Championships golds, and World Cups, but it’s time to be with my family. I’m going to miss the thrill and competition, but equally the relationships I’ve made over the years, from my coaches, teammates, competitors, Alex; my tech, and other friends I’ve met along the way from the years of traveling.”
Ligety is one of the world’s best giant slalom skiers as described by Olympic.org: “An Olympic Alpine combined champion at Turin 2006, Ted Ligety went on to become the world’s leading giant slalom skier, a status he confirmed by winning gold in the event at Sochi 2014. Five times a giant slalom world champion – with three of those wins coming consecutively between 2011 and 2015.”
“I’m excited for this next chapter with my wife and three boys,” Ligety said. “I am also looking forward to having more time to spend on my business @shredoptics …and figuring out what’s next. Thank you to my partners, coaches, teammates, everyone who had a role in getting me to this point, and to everyone who has enjoyed watching. It wouldn’t have been possible without you.”
Ligety received an outpouring of support and congratulations
- “❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ nobody will ski gs like you anymore my friend!” alpine skier Felix Neureuther said. “What a rolemodel you have been in this sport.”
- “Congrats on an amazing career Ted! 💫 🚀,” Andre Myhrer, Olympic champion and alpine skier, said. “Wish you the best of luck for the future and enjoy time with your loved ones. ❤️”
- “Thank you for being a big inspiration 🙌🔥🔥,” Adrian Smiseth Sejersted, a ski racer, said. “Spending so many hours analyzing your skiing. All the best !✅”
- All the best to you and family was nice too work with you!” Kalamar Ales said. “💪 Thanks!”
- “Cutest family ever !” three-time Olympian Resi Stiegler said. “Hero ! ❤️❤️❤️.”
- “🙌what a career buddy!” Manuel Osborne-Paradis said. “I’m told the next chapter is just as fulfilling, what I know for sure is it’s less stressful. Way to go!”
Congrats Ted!
Ligety then went Ligety split (had to) and followed up with a thank you.
In a nice gesture, he listed out and thanked a lot of people who mean a lot to him and who’ve been “instrumental in (his) life and career” starting out with, of course, his family.
“Thank you everyone for the huge outpouring of support, it has meant so much,” Ligety said. “Calling it quits is never easy but you guys have made it feel special. I want to thank some people who have been instrumental in my life and career. I am going to miss some important people so please forgive me.”
“First, off my parents, thanks for teaching me the value of hard work, independence, ownership and being supportive in letting me following my dreams. My wife Mia, you have made my life better in every way, best mother ever, best life partner in crime. My boys Jax, Will and Alec, you guys have put life in perspective and I can’t wait you watch you guys grow up. Alex, you weren’t just my amazing technician but also my close friend, coach, sounding board, and bodyguard. Carlo, it has been an adventure (and fun) learning business (@shredoptics) together. Forest, you’ve coached me for most of my career, happy to call you a friend, your humble, joyful, straightforward, competitive, down to earth approach, made me better, but also made it so much fun…”
Ted Ligety, Instagram post
What’s incredible is that not only is Ligety an Olympian Gold medalist, he also was able to come back to the sport after serious adversity and injuries.
“Following his 25th career giant slalom win in the opening race of the 2015/16 season in October in Sölden (AUT), the USA’s greatest all-time exponent of the discipline endured two truncated winters,” Olympic.org details. “That particular season ended in January with an injury to his right knee, while the following one was cut short by persistent hip problems that required two operations. Ligety returned to action in the 2018 Olympic season and claimed the 52nd top-three finish of his World Cup career in taking third place in the giant in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER) on 28 January. It was the USA men’s Alpine skiing team’s only podium finish of the winter.”
Now, it’s on to seemingly the best part of his day every day, spending time with his family.
Contents
What to Read Next...
At The Buzzer, or ATB is the place for those who love sports, life, family, community, and so much more. We are far from the run-of-the-mill 24/7 sports news websites. We not only bring you what’s happening in the world of sports in terms of trades and breaking news, but we also bring you the news that goes on behind the scenes, like big life moments, and so much more. So take a minute and read one of our articles, we promise you won't regret it.