Anna Schaffelhuber in an interview: "The mountain was my office"

SPIEGEL: Ms. Schaffelhuber, why do you end your career at the age of 26?

Schaffelhuber: For me, a new feeling has set in last year. It felt complete. I've never said that publicly, but my goal has always been to win the gold medal in all major events in every discipline. When I did that and was even able to confirm at the games in Pyeongchang, I missed the challenge.

SPIEGEL: Nevertheless, you have completed another season.

Schaffelhuber: During the season I have already felt a change. It has sometimes attracted me elsewhere. I deliberately pulled it off and let the decision mature. In the summer it felt good and that did not change.

SPIEGEL: Did other things matter?

Schaffelhuber: I finished my studies in spring, later my wedding followed. This has given rise to other goals and challenges.

SPIEGEL: The next Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing in 2022 - it would be their fourth games - therefore no longer exert any appeal?

Schaffelhuber: It's certainly nice in Beijing, but it does not bother me at all to be there at the start.

SPIEGEL: Before the games in Pyeongchang in 2014, they spoke of a special pressure situation because of their five gold medals in Sochi in 2014. Did that matter in your decision?

Schaffelhuber: If it had been about pressure, I would have had to stop before the 2018 games. I never wanted to complain. I wanted to be in this pressure situation.

SPIEGEL: In the resignations of biathletes Magdalena Neuner or Laura Dahlmeier, the media attention was much higher than yours. Does that annoy you?

Schaffelhuber: That's normal. In the media coverage one notices the difference. But we are on a good path, as I have noticed during my career. Reporting has become more frequent and better. Nevertheless, we are not the same, whether it's funding, structures or reporting. Therefore, I would have been surprised if it had been different.

SPIEGEL: Do para athletes and athletes get enough recognition?

Schaffelhuber: It depends. In the population and also of other athletes we get a lot of recognition. It is more about the external environment, where you realize that we do not get the same recognition.

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SPIEGEL: Would you like to give Para-Sport something to do in Germany?

Schaffelhuber: The junior structures must be significantly improved. And in terms of promotion, we must finally be equalized. Otherwise the German Paralympic sport will be quickly overtaken in international comparison.

SPIEGEL: What about young talent in your alpine skiing discipline?

Schaffelhuber: The offspring is a large construction site, especially with the men there are major omissions. For women, there are two female athletes, Andrea Rothfuss and Anna-Lena Forster, who will take the coals out of the fire. But behind it lacks the broad base.

SPIEGEL: What will you personally miss?

Schaffelhuber: It's the people with whom I've been traveling for twelve years and who I've seen almost the entire year. And so far the mountain was my office, I will miss that very much.

SPIEGEL: Is there something you will not miss?

Schaffelhuber: I am very happy that I am out of the anti-doping system and no longer have to constantly confirm. In addition, skiing is always associated with sun and dream weather, but there are so many days of snow and rain - and now I finally have the freedom to just go out when I feel like it.

SPIEGEL: What will your future look like in the first place?

Schaffelhuber: I am a teacher of mathematics, economics and law and I also think about working as a consultant, as a trainer or as an expert. But that still has to be done. In addition, I would like to focus more intensively on my Grenzenlos camp, where young people are trained in sports, media and personality.

SPIEGEL: You want to stay in the sport?

Schaffelhuber: I definitely do not want to be gone overnight. However, I can not imagine working as a full-time trainer, because then I would be on the road again. But I want to share my experiences.

SPIEGEL: What do you think about the idea of ​​hosting Paralympic and Olympic Games together?

Schaffelhuber: For the Paralympic sport it would be great, then we would be equal. It would go faster in terms of recognition, structure and promotion. In the practical implementation, but it would not be possible, even from the logistics ago.