Höfl-Riesch made her World Cup debut in February 2001 and won gold medals in slalom and super combined at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Injuries cut short her seasons in 2005 and 2006, causing her to miss the 2005 World Championships and the 2006 Winter Olympics.

After finishing second in the overall World Cup standings in 2009 and 2010, Riesch built a big lead early in the 2011 season which was enough to win the overall title, besting three-time defending champion Lindsey Vonn of the U.S. by just three points.

[6] Her younger sister, Susanne Riesch, is also a former World Cup ski racer, specializing in the slalom.

One of her closest friends (and major rival) on the World Cup tour was Lindsey Vonn of the United States.