End of an era: andreas sander, speed skiing legend, forced to retire at 36

The world of winter Sports is reeling after the announcement that German speed skiing specialist Andreas Sander will retire from competitive skiing at the end of March. At 36, Sander, a two-time World Championship silver medalist, is forced to hang up his skis due to a mitochondrial dysfunction that has severely impacted his physical capabilities.

Sander's career cut short by health issues

Sander, who competed in 196 World Cup races over an 18-year career, including 13 World Championship appearances and five Olympic Games, began experiencing symptoms of mitochondrial dysfunction in 2024. This condition, which prevents the mitochondria in cells from producing energy efficiently, left him with limited mobility and significant weakness, making high-level athletic competition impossible.

“After my illness, I tried everything to be able to compete at the highest level again,” Sander stated in a personal post. “While things are better in my daily life now, my goal of racing at World Cup level is no longer achievable. Therefore, I have decided to finally draw a line under my career.”

His most significant achievement came in 2021 at the World Championships in Cortina d'Ampezzo, where he narrowly missed gold, finishing just a hundredth of a second behind Vincent Kriechmayr. Sander also claimed the Super-G World Junior Championship.

The German Ski Federation (DSV) lauded Sander as a