Skicrosser Niklas Bachsleitner at the Olympics - the family shares the excitement: "It's maddeningly beautiful"
Created: 2022-02-18Updated: 2022-02-18, 6:25 p.m
His pride and joy: Grandpa Manfred Bachsleitner listens to grandson Niklas in an interview.
The ski crosser was eliminated in the round of 16, his biggest fan would never be disappointed.
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In the round of 16, ski crosser Niklas Bachsleitner is eliminated from Olmypia.
His parents and grandfather are still very proud.
They shared the fever at home in Burgrain and Grainau.
Burgrain
– Usually the boys stay up late at night, but when the son or grandchild is away at the Olympic Games in Beijing, grandfathers and parents also forgo their sleep.
Shortly after four in the morning the alarm clock rang at the Bachsleitner family in Grainau on Friday.
A little later, the Olympic ski cross competition begins for son Niklas.
In the beginning it's not about much.
In the seeding run it is decided in which heat – in which race in which group – and from which gate Bachsleitner will later start the round of 16.
However, sleeping longer is not an option for the parents Birgit and Jürgen.
They watched every run.
"And as always, we were very tense to see if everything would go smoothly," says Jürgen Bachsleitner.
He sits on hot coals when his son races down the course.
Mainly because of his three serious injuries in the past three seasons.
Dad gets particularly nervous when the 25-year-old falls or the camera hides him.
There is also such a moment of shock at the Olympics, the athlete falls in the seeding run.
Nothing happens, Bachsleitner is only annoyed about the mistake.
Grandpa Manfred Bachsleitner: Morning gymnastics during the break from racing
Grandpa Manfred, who follows the race alone at home in Burgrain, uses the break until the round of sixteen for his daily morning gymnastics.
"Somehow I wasn't excited and nervous at all today, but I didn't have a good feeling either." The 81-year-old, probably his grandson's biggest fan, had such a good premonition in his sleep before the games.
"I dreamed he made bronze." When he told his grandson about it, he just looked at him and laughed.
The round of 16 races begin at 7 a.m., Manfred Bachsleitner is sitting in front of the television – but then quite excited.
Just seeing his grandson competing at the Olympics makes him happy.
"It's maddeningly nice that he made it." Niklas Bachsleitner is thus continuing to live his grandfather's dream of a great sports career.
"I'm very proud of that." The 81-year-old was a professional athlete with the Federal Border Police, tried his hand at biathlon and martial arts, but it didn't go any further than the German police championship.
Skicrosser Bachsleitner is eliminated in the round of 16 - parents and grandpa proud
The round of 16 is over, Bachsleitner eliminated.
His grandfather is disappointed for a brief moment – for the 25-year-old, not for himself.
“My grandson has never disappointed me, not even today.
I'm so proud that he's in Beijing, that's all that counts.” Besides, he's still young, he still has time.
The father also sees the positive in Grainau.
His son will be angry.
For Jürgen Bachsleitner, however, something else counts: After three years in which his son was not able to complete a season without an injury, he is now at the Olympics.
"That's the positive thing he can take away."
When the 25-year-old confidently answers questions in the Sportschau interview a little later, Grandpa Manfred's eyes shine with pride again.
Father Jürgen also knows once again why he accompanies his son's path from alpine racing and BMX riding to ski cross to this day, stands by his side in the weight room and builds start gates for the garden.
"He loves doing it." Not only is he living his dream, but he's also giving a lot back to his family, even at 4 a.m.
Catherine Ebenhoch