Feller announces early season end due to physical struggles

Olympic silver medalist Manuel Feller has revealed he's bringing an early end to his winter season, citing ongoing physical struggles. At just 33, the slalom specialist from Austria has been battling injuries for over a decade. Feller won silver alongside Vincent Kriechmayr in Bormio last month, but that will be his last race of the campaign. He made the announcement on Instagram, stating the season had been mentally and physically grueling.

Feller's fractured spine and chronic pain take toll

Feller has been plagued by ischial pain caused by consecutive herniated discs. The issue has worsened over the past two seasons. On top of that, he's been dealing with a stress fracture for around a year and a severe groin inflammation since January. His medical records are packed.

Instead of pushing on through the remaining World Cup events until the March finale in Norway, Feller has decided to take time to recover. He expressed pride in his progress both on and off the slopes, but his body and mind have told him it's time to rest. Feller is likely to undergo surgery for his back and hip issues, aiming to return strong for next season.

Despite his early exit, Feller remains one of the world's top slalom racers, boasting seven World Cup wins and a silver medal from the 2018 Nordic World Ski Championships. Fans will miss him in the final slalom events in Kranjska Gora and Kvitfjell, where the circuit concludes.