IN BRIEF : Stenmark Sure Record Will Stand

Swedish star Ingemar Stenmark, retiring after the current series of World Cup ski races in Japan, believes nobody will beat his record of 86 World Cup race victories.

“It’s not easy to beat my record. I think it will remain unbeaten,” he told reporters after a practice session.

Marc Girardelli of Luxembourg is a distant second with 27 victories.

The 32-year-old Stenmark, an Olympic gold medalist, says he is retiring because “I do not have 100% motivation for the ski training and the race itself as before.”