Marco Schwarz to end slalom career to focus on speed disciplines

Austrian alpine skier Marco Schwarz has announced he will step away from slalom competition starting with the 2026/27 season. The 31-year-old, a former slalom crystal globe winner and seven-time World Championship medalist, stated that competing in four disciplines is no longer sustainable due to the physical demands and the density of the World Cup calendar.

Schwarz intends to focus his efforts on giant slalom, super-G, and downhill to increase his chances of podium finishes and victories. He described the decision as “one of the hardest decisions of my career,” noting that while the move is emotional given his history in the discipline, he must be pragmatic following previous injuries, including a cruciate ligament tear and a herniated disc.

While he is moving away from regular slalom racing, Schwarz has not entirely closed the door on the discipline. He may participate in occasional slalom starts, such as those following the World Championships in Crans-Montana, provided they do not cause excessive physical strain or displace teammates.