The 30-year-old German took to social media to break the news, admitting it was a "very difficult but inevitable decision" to leave the big stage.

In a career spanning 13 years, Rebensburg racked up 49 International Ski Federation (FIS) Alpine Ski World Cup podiums, including 19 wins, as well as three giant slalom titles.

Her biggest achievement came in 2010 when she won giant slalom gold at the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver before claiming bronze in Sochi four years later.

Rebensburg also secured silver medals at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in 2015 and 2019.

But a day after winning her first World Cup downhill title at Garmisch-Partenkirchen in February, Rebensburg suffered a fracture in one of her tibias.

Rebensburg revealed she returned to training before deciding to call time on her professional career.

"Today is certainly not an easy day for me, as I have decided to end my career with immediate effect after 13 years," Rebensburg said in a post on social media.

"I made this decision with a heavy heart and after much consideration over the last few weeks.

"After my injury in spring and the past two months of snow training, I realised that I would no longer be able to reach my absolute top level.

"From a very young age, it has always been my ambition and incentive to compete for success and to inspire you on the slopes.

"But now that I have the feeling that I can no longer live up to this, this is a very difficult but inevitable decision for me.

"With the memory of my last race weekend in Garmisch and the victory in the downhill, it is a nice time to leave the winter sports stage."