At only 33 years old, Isola 2000 skier Mathieu Faivre announced the end of his career. A triple world champion and Olympic bronze medalist, Mathieu Faivre leaves the circuit after fifteen seasons in the World Cup, marked by a journey punctuated with highs and lows.
Native of Nice, skier Mathieu Faivre developed between the Côte d’Azur and the Alpine massifs, a region where skiing is part of the landscape. Registered at Isola 2000, he proudly represented the colors of azurean skiing on slopes around the world. It is there, in the high-country resort of Nice, that he shaped his style and forged his determination.
Yesterday, Wednesday, October 15, 2025, in a video posted on Instagram, the native of Nice made his decision official. “The decision was not easy, as it was an entire life dedicated to this sport and to fulfilling my childhood dreams. (…) I never imagined that skiing would take me so far.”
In fifteen seasons, Mathieu Faivre carved his name among the most consistent in French skiing. He participated in over 200 World Cup races and achieved ten podiums, including two victories. The first, at Val d’Isère in 2016, marked a turning point for the Isola skier. The second, five years later in Bansko, reaffirmed his return to the highest level.
But it was at the World Championships in Cortina d’Ampezzo in 2021 that his career reached its peak. The native of Nice won two individual titles, in giant slalom and parallel. A rare feat in the history of French skiing. Two days after his first victory, he became world champion in giant slalom, 53 years after Jean-Claude Killy.
“I came here primarily for the giant slalom. Leaving with the most beautiful medal is just an incredible feeling. It has been 53 years since a Frenchman became world champion in giant slalom; it’s my discipline, I do almost only that, so it means a lot. And Killy is nonetheless the reference in alpine skiing along with Alexis, who has an incredible record. To have my name inscribed after his in the records is weighty,” he stated at the time.
A flame ignited in Isola 2000
Mathieu Faivre started skiing very young in the Alpes-Maritimes. At 18, he became the junior world champion in giant slalom at Les Houches. His journey accelerated thereafter: national titles, first selections in the World Cup, European podiums. By 2013, he joined the World Cup group in giant slalom.
His progression led him to the Sochi Olympics in 2014, then to Pyeongchang in 2018, before claiming the Olympic bronze in Beijing in 2022. A medal sealing the accomplishment of a long journey.
In his farewell video, he reflects on this decisive moment: “skiing ignited a flame in me that guided me through all these years. This flame seems to have burned out on that day of the giant slalom at the Olympics in Beijing in 2022. It’s a bit like everything fell away. I felt like I had explored my field completely and given my absolute all to my sport and my career.”
The last seasons have been more challenging. Injured at the clavicle in 2024, he was unable to regain his best form. His decision to end his career falls in line with a clear and rational progression.
For Nice skiing, the departure of Mathieu Faivre marks the end of a generation. He demonstrated that one could come from Nice, train at Isola 2000, and conquer the greatest competitions in the world.
His journey remains a source of pride for the region and a benchmark for young azurean skiers. A page turns, but his imprint endures, between the Mediterranean and the peaks of the Mercantour.
