Lara Gut-Behrami’s career not over yet, says Olympic legend Figini

Lara Gut-Behrami’s career not over yet, says Olympic legend Figini

Lara Gut-Behrami still has more to give, according to Michela Figini, the 1984 Olympic downhill champion. Figini, now 59, spoke to blue Sport about Gut-Behrami’s injury struggles and argued the reigning Olympic champion isn’t done yet.

What did Figini say about Gut-Behrami?

Figini told blue Sport: “Every athlete wants to decide for themselves when to call it quits. That’s why I think her career might not be over yet.” Her comments come after Gut-Behrami missed significant chunks of the 2025-26 season with injuries, including a knee issue that kept her out of the Beijing Olympics.

The 32-year-old Swiss racer has dominated the technical events for over a decade. She claimed Olympic gold in the combined at Beijing 2022 and owns three overall World Cup titles. But a series of setbacks-most recently a knee injury in December 2025-forced her to skip key races this winter.

Figini’s own career pivot after early retirement

Figini retired at 24 after her Sarajevo 1984 triumph. She never raced again, stepping away from the sport while still at its peak. Now she runs a padel center in Biasca, Ticino, a far cry from the slopes that made her a legend.

Her own body turned on her later in life. Two artificial hip joints and a 2023 ACL and meniscus tear-sustained during a TV gig in St. Moritz-ended her active padel days. “I was never injured this badly as a racer,” she said. “Then this happens to me as a TV analyst.”

Why Figini’s words carry weight

Figini’s endorsement matters because she knows what it’s like to walk away too soon. She won gold at 17 in Sarajevo, then vanished from the sport almost overnight. Her perspective on Gut-Behrami’s timing feels personal.

Gut-Behrami, meanwhile, has stayed quiet about retirement. She last raced in December 2025 before her injury flared up again. The 2026 World Championships in Crans-Montana loom, but her participation remains uncertain.

Figini’s message is clear: Gut-Behrami still has control over her story. “It took me years to realize what I’d done,” Figini said of her own career. “That’s why I think Lara’s not finished.”