Where Michelle Gisin Is Finding Peace After Her Retirement
Rest. Recover. Return: For former ski racer Michelle Gisin, this is her daily reality right now. After her serious crash in December 2025, she’s learning to measure progress differently: by the distance she can cover on her own again, by a short training session, and sometimes by taking time for the sauna in the evening. A conversation about patience, big goals, and small steps.
- Michelle, after your fall, you spent a long time trying to figure out what had happened. Did you find an answer?
- Having to accept that you could hardly have prevented the fall is one thing. Not being able to speed up the healing process afterward is probably another. How do you deal with that?
- What does a day look like when there's time for both training and rest?
- With a daily routine like that, you probably need a good sense of how much you can handle at any given time. Have you figured that out yet?
- In the past, when you measured progress, it was all about times and rankings. How do you measure it today?
- What small step forward felt especially significant to you?
- You said about that time: “Slow is also a speed.” What do you mean by that?
- And if even a small bit of progress is barely noticeable on a given day, what helps you then?
- Your Küng sauna is part of this sense of calm. What does it mean to you and your husband, Luca?
- What changes for you the moment you close the sauna door?
- Do you have your own ritual for these moments?
- What do you hope to take away from this journey for your life?
- What advice would you give to someone who has a long road ahead of them?
Michelle, after your fall, you spent a long time trying to figure out what had happened. Did you find an answer?
At first, I could hardly believe that I’d taken such a hard fall. For a long time, I wondered what I might have done wrong. Eventually, I had to accept that there’s always some residual risk. If I were to take that turn again, there’s hardly anything I could do differently.
Having to accept that you could hardly have prevented the fall is one thing. Not being able to speed up the healing process afterward is probably another. How do you deal with that?
That's still a challenge. Throughout my career, I've often been able to push through obstacles. In recent months, I've had to learn to find the right balance between being active and resting.
What does a day look like when there's time for both training and rest?
I try to meditate for 20 minutes in the morning after I wake up. After that, I have a hearty breakfast. That’s how I start the day feeling energized, both physically and mentally. Most days, I do physical therapy and—until I retired—I also worked out; in the afternoon, I go to college. I set my sauna so that it’s ready when I get back. There, I can especially relieve the tension in my back.
With a daily routine like that, you probably need a good sense of how much you can handle at any given time. Have you figured that out yet?
I’m still learning. With so many serious injuries, there’s no manual—especially not for this combination of them. I’m trying things out. Often, I can’t do something yet, but sometimes I can do more than I think I can. I can rely on my amazing support system: The people around me push me out of my comfort zone, but they also slow me down and catch me when it gets to be too much.
What small step forward felt especially significant to you?
That I was able to get around more independently again. Having to rely on others was very stressful for me. That’s why I really enjoyed being able to use public transportation again or drive a little in the spring.
You said about that time: “Slow is also a speed.” What do you mean by that?
Even a light workout or a very short session is good. It doesn’t always have to be a session lasting several hours. Ever since I decided to end my racing career, taking it slow has also meant that I’m basically allowed to take my time. I can exercise because it brings me joy. And I can stop whenever it no longer feels right for me.
And if even a small bit of progress is barely noticeable on a given day, what helps you then?
My routines. And the peace and quiet that I can always find at home in one way or another.
What changes for you the moment you close the sauna door?
At that moment, I leave my worries, fears, hopes, and dreams behind. I’m just there to relax. The heat really helps me loosen up my back. During a longer session in the bio sauna, I can also let go mentally.
Do you have your own ritual for these moments?
Yes, I'm going to pick some herbs or flowers from the garden and put them in the bio-sauna.
Du gibst der Erholung heute viel Raum. Was bedeutet «Return» für dich?
For me, the first priority was to be able to ski again. I always told myself: Only once I’m back on my skis will I decide whether I still want to race. That goal gave me a lot of strength during rehab. I dreamed of skiing, but Crans-Montana still seemed a long way off. So I took it one step at a time. And as the day drew nearer, I realized: Now is the right time. Today, “return” means being able to ski again and deciding for myself what place skiing has in my life.
What do you hope to take away from this journey for your life?
I want to appreciate my body's abilities more. It's incredible what our bodies—and our minds—are capable of. It's important to pause every now and then and be grateful for that.
