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Vice World Champion Kira Weidle: "In Beijing, too, the goal is a medal"

2021-10-27T15:44:21.069Z


In just over a month, ski racer Kira Weidle will start the World Cup season with the downhill race in Lake Louise (Canada). In an interview with Merkur, the 25-year-old vice world champion from SC Starnberg talks about her goals in the Olympic season.


In just over a month, ski racer Kira Weidle will start the World Cup season with the downhill race in Lake Louise (Canada).

In an interview with Merkur, the 25-year-old vice world champion from SC Starnberg talks about her goals in the Olympic season.

Starnberg - Starnberg skier Kira Weidle is in the starting blocks of the Olympic winter season.

After the official World Cup opener for the women in the giant slalom last weekend in Sölden, in which the speed specialist from SC Starnberg did not take part, the reigning runner-up in the downhill world champion will contest her first World Cup race in November.

In an interview with Starnberg Merkur, the 25-year-old looks back on her vacation at home and on the preparation for the season, talks about imponderables and goals at the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing in 2022, describes her current form and explains her role model function for the youngsters.

How did your loyal mascot, the soft toy “Zauchi” fare in Starnberg during the summer months?

Zauchi is doing well so far.

Even if Zauchi was unable to travel with my fan club during the corona pandemic, when no spectators were allowed to attend our races, and had not been on duty for a long time.

Were you able to toast the successful preseason with a glass of wine at home in Starnberg or during your vacation in Italy and Greece?

After we weren't allowed to hold any big celebrations outside of the team because of the corona pandemic, I celebrated the silver medal at the world championship in close quarters.

The holiday after more than a year without the sea and the beach was good for taking a break from the mountains.

I was able to treat myself to a glass of wine there.

What can “Zauchi” expect in the coming season?

The Olympic Winter Games in Beijing are a major event this season.

First of all, I hope for a good start in Lake Louise.

I'm particularly looking forward to being able to drive there again after the racing cancellations last year.

And what about the Olympic Games in Beijing in February 2022?

My expectations at the Olympic Games are: anything is possible in every race.

The qualification, which I still have to develop beforehand, is the top priority.

And when I'm in Beijing, like at the last World Cup, a medal is the goal.

How do you judge the Olympic Games in Beijing 2022 with all the imponderables and side effects in general?

This is a very special number.

In the run-up, there was a lot of excitement about the vaccination issue.

There is simply a great deal of uncertainty among everyone involved.

Skiing is not as important in Asia as it is in Europe or North America.

The fact that the races are held there without an audience is not entirely new to us.

We are used to driving without spectators from last season.

I think it's a shame that we as alpine skiers are very isolated from the other athletes, that our competition venues have been outsourced and that we are more than two hours away from the Medal Plaza.

How is your state of health?

You struggled with back pain and a thumb injury last season.

My thumb is fine so far and so is my back.

And otherwise, from a health point of view, thank God I haven't had any failures recently.

I hope, of course, that it will continue to do so in the future.

In the preparation for the season, it was important for me to stay focused and gather strength for the start of the season.

At the beginning of November it will go straight to the USA.

How exactly did the preparation for the season go?

Due to the corona, we did not travel to South America this time.

In Europe, however, the snow situation was also good.

That's why we trained a lot in Saas-Fee and Zermatt in Switzerland.

For strength training, I was last in Garmisch-Partenkirchen two to three times a week.

Another topic: How can you actually understand your role as athlete spokeswoman in the German Ski Association, which you are currently playing as a top German athlete with a role model for the youngsters?

The young athletes are a matter close to my heart.

I know from my own experience how quickly you can be overlooked as a talent and move under the radar.

Together with the coaches, I have a good perspective from an athlete's point of view.

In this role I want to mediate.

My job in this role has already been accepted by young athletes.

Keyword young talent: How do you assess the situation at your club SC Starnberg with its numerous young talents?

The results, in particular, show that good work has been done there in recent years.

SC Starnberg has a strong team.

I hope that this will continue after the forced Corona break.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-10-27

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