Austrian skier who won a record 35 World Cup slalom races and is one of the most successful skiers in World Cup history, with a total of 66 podiums.
Marlies Schild, the Austrian skiing sensation, is renowned for her unparalleled dominance in the technical disciplines of slalom and giant slalom, boasting an impressive haul of four Olympic medals, seven World Championship medals, and five World Cup season titles.
Throughout her illustrious career, Schild has etched her name in the annals of alpine skiing history, with an incredible 37 World Cup wins, all but two of which came in her preferred event, the slalom.
Born on May 31, 1981, in Admont, Styria, Austria, Schild initially had her heart set on the downhill event. However, a series of knee injuries, which led to five surgeries by the age of 19, forced her to reassess her priorities and focus on the less physically demanding slalom and giant slalom disciplines.
Schild's perseverance and adaptability paid off, as she began to make a name for herself on the World Cup circuit. Since 2004, she has consistently finished among the top three in the World Cup slalom standings, with the exception of 2009, when an injury forced her to sit out the entire season.
Her breakthrough year came in 2007, when she claimed the slalom World Cup title, a feat she would repeat in 2008 and 2011. Schild's impressive form also earned her a second-place finish in the overall World Cup standings that year, narrowly missing out on the top spot to compatriot Nicole Hosp.
In October 2008, Schild suffered a devastating setback, fracturing her left tibia and fibula in a training accident. The severity of the injury ruled her out of the entire 2009 season, leaving many to wonder if she would ever regain her pre-injury form.
However, Schild's determination and resilience proved instrumental in her comeback. She returned to competition in November 2009 and, just a few weeks later, celebrated her first victory after the injury, winning the slalom in Lienz on December 29.
Schild's Olympic medal tally includes silvers in the combined event at the 2006 Torino Games and in the slalom at the 2010 Vancouver Games, as well as a bronze in the slalom at the 2006 Olympics. She also secured a silver medal in the slalom at the 2014 Sochi Games.
At the World Championships, Schild has won an impressive seven medals, including gold in the slalom at the 2011 Garmisch-Partenkirchen Championship.
After a remarkable career spanning over a decade, Schild announced her retirement from international competition in September 2014, at the age of 33. Her legacy as one of the greatest slalom skiers of all time is cemented, with a plethora of accolades and a lasting impact on the sport.
Schild's remarkable journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes and a testament to the power of perseverance, dedication, and passion. As the curtain falls on her illustrious career, Marlies Schild's name will forever be etched in the annals of alpine skiing history.
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