Overview
- Pfeifer, 31, publicly announced her decision to retire from elite skeleton on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, saying she no longer had the drive to commit to the four-year push to the 2030 Games.
- Her career ends after 19 years at the top of the sport and includes three Olympic medals, three world titles, a European crown, multiple overall World Cup victories, and a Youth Olympic gold from 2012.
- After a dip following the 2022 Beijing Games, Pfeifer refocused her training on start speed and biomechanics and returned to winning form with a World Cup victory in Cortina in November 2025 and two Olympic bronzes in Cortina in early 2026.
- She has been employed in the Bundespolizei Sportfördergruppe since 2014 and said she will leave that program to work for the Bundespolizei, with plans to take internships while transitioning out of elite sport.
- Her retirement joins other recent exits in German skeleton and could reshape team leadership and athlete development, since her experience, coaching ties and public profile have been central to the sport's success.