Norwegian skier Lucas Braathen, the winner of last season's World Cup slalom title, announced his shock retirement on Friday aged just 23 following a dispute with his country's ski federation.
"I am retiring. I'm done," Braathen announced at a press conference in Soelden, the Austrian resort where the new season begins this weekend. It was also the site of his first World Cup win in 2020.
"For the first time in my career, I feel free," he said.
"In order for me to continue skiing within this system, I had to not only put my dreams aside, but also my joy of living. I'm not willing to do that anymore.
"That said, I am happy to announce that at the place where I won my very first World Cup race."
Braathen had been embroiled in a long-running conflict with the federation over athlete image rights, which escalated recently when he took part in a photo shoot for a clothing brand that was unauthorised.
The federation said this week it would fine Braathen.
His decision to walk away from the sport came as a "complete surprise" to Norwegian ski officials Friday.
"I deeply regret that Lucas has reached this conclusion," the president of the Norwegian ski federation, Tove Moe Dyrhaug, said in a statement.
"At the same time, we can do nothing but respect the decision he has made."
Braathen, who made his World Cup debut in December 2018, won five races, three in the slalom as well as two giant slaloms.
He finished on the podium seven times last season and went on to claim the slalom crystal globe.
The 2023-24 season starts Saturday with a women's giant slalom on the glacier in Soelden. A men's race is scheduled for Sunday.
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