Elena Runggaldier: Retirement and dream wedding

When the women's Ski Jumping World Cup will start on December 5th and 6th in Lillehammer (NOR), one athlete, who was part of the women's Ski Jumping circuit from the beginning, will be missed. Italy's Elena Runggaldier has decided to end her career.

After the sudden end of last season in March in Trondheim (NOR), Elena Runggaldier was not sure yet, whether she should retire or not. It's obviously not easy to end a Ski Jumping career.
A few weeks later she then decided to retire, and, up to now, the 30-year-old is not regretting her decision.
"I don't regret it, it was my decision and it was the right one to make", explains Runggaldier, whose best results in the World Cup were fifth places in Oslo and Sapporo.

The highlight of her career was definitely winning the silver medal at the 2011 Nordic World Championships in Oslo. Only Austria's Daniela Iraschko-Stolz was better than Runggadier in the second World Championships in women's Ski Jumping at the Midtstubakken in Oslo.

Even if the Italian was not in the spotlight with huge wins or podium results during her ten years in the World Cup, she was always performing on a very high level among the world's best. And she always impressed with her likable personality, she was always in a good mood, friendly and open.

Now Elena Runggaldier is working with the Financial Police and the Mountain Rescue Service in the Aosta Valley. "Life is also beautiful without Ski Jumping and I enjoy the time with my partner a lot", says Runggaldier.
The partner she is talking about is also her husband. Francois Braud, a former world-class athlete in Nordic Combined, and Elena Runggaldier got married this summer.

And when the Ski Jumpers will fight for World Cup points again in December, Elena Runggaldier will definitely be watching and cheering in front of the TV. "I will cross my fingers for my former colleagues and I wish them a season with lots of long and cool jumps".

Special wishes are also coming from somebody who knows her for many years: Sandro Pertile, the new Ski Jumping Race Director is also from South Tyrol and got to know her as a special athlete who he wishes nothing but the best: "Elena was a role model and a leader for many young female ski jumpers in Italy. With her friendly and open personality, she was extremely popular among her fellow athletes from all around the world. I want to wish her all the best for her life after Ski Jumping", said Pertile.

And we join him in his wishes: Arrivederci Elena, all the best, it was a pleasure!'

Elena Runggaldier thanked her friends, coaches, and everyone who has supported her with an emotional post on social media:

"Hi everybody,
Time has come for me to end this beautiful adventure, that started 18 years ago. Ski jumping has given me a lot of great emotions. As an athlete, and also as a person I have learned a lot in all these years and I can say that sport truly is a school of life. 
All the wonderful memories will always remain close to my heart. From the passion, fatigue, adrenaline, satisfaction, determination, moments of disappointment, to the wonderful people I met along the way and all the laughs I had with my teammates. 😂😂
In the beginning, I was practicing a sport that was almost unknown to me and that at the end became my sport, my life.
A huge THANKS to my family, that has ALWAYS supported me with pride, and to my boyfriend (now husband) Francois Braud.🥰
Thanks to Romed Moroder, who had the crazy idea to create the first women's team in Italy together with Martin Planker and Fabian Ebenhoch. The Sci Club Gardena who immediately supported us, as well as the sponsor Südtirol who believed in us.
I would like to thank the Italian Ski Federation, the Gruppo Sportivo Fiamme Gialle, all the sponsors who have accompanied me in these years, all the coaches, teammates, physiotherapists, staff, all the people who have been by my side in all these years and of course, all my fans.
Without you I couldn't have reached my dream.
A huge thank you,
Elena"