Bad luck in retirement
German Olympic champion injured shortly after ending his career
April 6, 2026 – 11:06 a.mReading time: 1 min.
Johannes Rydzek had barely finished his active career when he fell onto the operating table. The seven-time world champion speaks out.
The seven-time combined world champion Johannes Rydzek tore a cruciate ligament while skiing. The 34-year-old only competed in his last race in Oslo in mid-March and then ended his career.
Rydzek wrote on Instagram: “Sometimes things turn out differently than you think. I had many plans after the end of my career, but life had different ones. After I was fortunately spared serious injuries as an active player, my knee didn’t survive an unnecessary but also spectacular fall in the giant slalom. That’s why I’m getting a new cruciate ligament on Wednesday.”
Rydzek retired with two Olympic gold medals and seven world titles. In 2017 he was voted Germany’s Athlete of the Year. He spent his first spring in retirement doing rehabilitation.
