Schild, 33, told a press conference in Vienna that she was ready to start thinking about having a family and taking her life in a new direction. “It’s time for me to change my goals and dreams,” she said tearfully.  

“I’ve been able to do what I dreamed of doing as a little girl – I’m so grateful that I’ve had this dream job for so many years,” she added.

She won her 35th career slalom event in Lienz in December.

Schild earned four crystal globes as the season's best slalom skier and became the discipline's world champion in 2011. She also won four Olympic medals but failed to take gold.

Her career has been marred by injuries. She missed the entire 2008-2009 season due to a broken left lower leg and was out for months after damaging her right knee in 2012. She has had knee surgery six times.