Competitive Italian Alpine skier Celina Haller recently took to Instagram to announce her retirement from skiing at just 26 years old. The slalom specialist spent eight seasons competing in International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) events before deciding to move on from professional skiing.
“It’s time for me to say goodbye to my career as a professional skier,” Haller wrote in her announcement. “When I look back, I don’t just see races, medals, or results—I see a life I poured my heart into. A journey filled with unforgettable highs and painful lows. Moments of victory, when everything felt worth it, and moments of disappointment, when I questioned myself and my performance.”
From Youth Skiing to the FIS Circuit
For Haller, a native of Italy’s South Tyrol region, skiing was something she had loved since she was a child. Born in Merano, Italy, in 2000, Haller first began training for high-level skiing at Ski Club Ifinger Schenna and at Sportclub Meran. After winning multiple national titles that included an Italian Aspiranti and Giovani slalom championship, she found herself competing for the elite Fiamme Gialle (Yellow Flames) sports group, the athletic arm of the Italian Finance Guard.
Competing with Fiamme Gialle, Haller began to try her skills in some of the world’s biggest races.
In 2016, Haller made her FIS debut at a National Junior Race in November in Solda, Italy, where she had a solid performance and placed seventh. She was only 16 at the time, but she quickly found her footing, standing atop the podium at another National Junior Race less than a month later.
Heller’s Career Highlights
The skier’s decorated career is highlighted by her European Cup performances, World Cup appearances, National Junior Championship victories, and a National Championship win. Her first Junior National Championship came in 2018, where she swept the slalom, giant slalom, and alpine combined events.
Haller made her World Cup debut in November 2021 in Lech/Zuers, Austria, placing 39th in the parallel category. She would go on to compete in six total World Cups, but her 2021 debut would stand as her career-best result.
Perhaps the biggest highlight of her career came in 2020 at the National Championships in Kronplatz, Italy. She took first place in the giant slalom category, securing her first National Championship gold medal.
A Solid Final Season
Haller’s final season came in 2025-26. She began her season at a World Cup in Courchevel, France, where she was unable to qualify for the final. Despite the rough start, she finished her final season strong with five total podiums, including a first-place finish in slalom at the National Junior Championships and a second-place finish in slalom at the National Championships.
A Heartfelt ‘Thank You’
The majority of World Cup slalom skiers retire between the ages of 30 and 35. Haller, who is 26, cited both mental and physical injuries, which sometimes forced her to “start from zero” and “rebuild myself step by step.”
Despite the challenges she experienced in professional skiing, Haller said she feels nothing but gratitude for the sport and the people who walked alongside her on her journey.
“This journey was never one I walked alone,” Haller wrote. “So many people stood by my side, especially during the hardest moments. You gave me strength when I had none left. You believed in me when I struggled to believe in myself.”
As Haller steps into the next chapter of her life, she does not yet know what comes next, but she is excited for “new challenges, new lessons, and a new version of myself that I have yet to meet.”
