Article by Luminița Paul – Published Wednesday, February 11, 2026 20:00 / Updated Wednesday, February 11, 2026 20:00
Italy's Christof Innerhofer (41) has become the oldest skier to finish an alpine event at the Milan Cortina Winter Games, adding another major achievement to a career that lists five Olympic appearances.
Christoph Innerhoferthe 1984-born time trial specialist, returned to the same Stelvio slope where he first dominated in 2008 when he won the downhill World Cup stage.
The veteran from South Tyrol is best known for his brilliant season in 2011, when at the age of 26 he won gold in the super-G, silver in the combined and bronze in the downhill in World Championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany).
“What inspires me is to prove that age is relative and that with a lot of sacrifice, passion and training, you can keep going and even push your limitsInnerhofer told Reuters after the Olympic super-G race in Bormio, where he finished 11th.
“Today I'm here, 41 years old, at the Olympics, and I can still finish in the Top 10 or Top 15. That alone means it's a success to be here – but above all, for me it's a great life message: that at 40 you're still very young and you can do the same things as someone in their 20s“.
Christof Innerhofer: “I like competing against young people”
Christof Innerhofer at Milano Cortina 2026 Photo: Imago Images
Traditionally, alpine skiers retire well before their 35th birthday.
But Innerhofer is among the few older athletes who have pushed the limits of the sport in recent years, thanks to medical advances, technological improvements and sheer determination.
French John Clarey won the downhill silver medal at Beijing 2022 at the age of 41 years and 30 days. Seven-time Olympian Sarah Schleper, a former US champion who now competes for Mexico, turns 47 on February 19 and is set to become the oldest female alpine skier at the Winter Olympics.
The Great American Sportswoman Lindsey Vonn41, who has come back to strength after a series of injuries, was hoping to win another medal at this year's Olympics, but her dream was cut short after a horrific crash on the Tofane track on Sunday, February 8.
Innerhofer, whose Olympic record also includes a downhill silver medal and a combined bronze medal at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, as well as more than a dozen World Cup podiums, says his passion for the sport is unwavering.
I love to compete – to compete against young people, to try to improve every day, to compete with them, to train every day – Christoph Innerhofer
The Italian skier says he is considering competing in the next World Cup season, but has not set a clear age limit for his skiing career.
“If I can still finish 10th or 15th, it still makes sense to compete. But if I'm 40th and 4 seconds behind the winner, then it doesn't make sense anymore“, he concluded.
