Sweden’s Andre Myhrer, Matts Olsson retire

By Published On: March 19th, 2020Comments Off on Sweden’s Andre Myhrer, Matts Olsson retire

Swedish tech stars Andre Myhrer and Matts Olsson have opted to retire at the end of the 2019/20 season. Both athletes had hoped to compete one last time in Kranjska Gora and World Finals in Cortina prior to the season’s early cancellation. Unfortunately, their season was cut short due to unforeseen global events.

“After a long career in ski racing, Cortina was going to be my last show, I had it all planned out and I was going to win that race,” Myhrer joked on Instagram. “Finals have always been my thing, then Corona happened. Even though I´m very disappointed I couldn’t make that last start, that last push I am grateful for this last season where I together with my family and team made it possible to get to that start gate, prepared and ready to race for the podiums which has always been my goal.”

Myhrer, 37, ends his career with 250 World Cup starts, eight World Cup victories, two Olympic medals (one of them gold), three World Championship medals, and one slalom overall title in 2012.

Myhrer’s Olympic gold came to him in his final Olympic Games in PyeongChang, 14 years after he got his start on the World Cup. His eight World Cup victories make him one of the winningest Swedish alpine skiers of all time, only falling behind Swedish legend Ingemar Stenmark. He specialized in slalom.

“I didn’t get to make that ”last” run but I have so many runs to look back on throughout the years, many terrible, some decent, a few good, and a handful of amazing ones who made all the difference, made all of those countless hours of training worth it,” Myhrer wrote.

Olsson also had his fair share of World Cup success. The 31-year-old ends his career with 114 World Cup starts, four podiums, and one World Cup win. He got his start with the Swedish National Team in 2005 and grew into his career as a giant slalom specialist.

“When I sum up [my career], I am probably most proud that I have been able to help keep life in Swedish giant slalom at the highest level during my career,” Olsson told the Swedish ski team. “The two years I belonged to the top seven is something I can also feel proud of. Of course, even the times I’ve stepped up to the podium are memorable moments, but there comes a time when hunger and motivation have disappeared.”

“There have been peaks and valleys, competition and training are of course something to remember, but what was best in between is any way that I had the opportunity to share this trip with like-minded teammates. It’s definitely something that will be there forever,” added Olsson.

Myhrer and Olsson join Norway’s Nina Haver-Loeseth and Germany’s Fritz Dopfer in the ranks of athletes that have chosen to retire at the conclusion of the 2019/20 season.

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About the Author: Mackenzie Moran

Born and raised in Metro-Detroit, Michigan, Mackenzie grew up ski racing all over the Mitten.​ She moved out west in search of mountains and attended the University of Oregon, where she achieved degrees in Journalism and Environmental Science. She raced USCSA and was captain of the UO Alpine Ski Team.