Ski ace Simon Jocher fulfills dream of participating in the Olympics
Created: 12/21/2021, 09:31 AM
By: Marco Blanco-Ucles
You can't stop laughing: Simon Jocher is among the top 15 athletes in both the Super-G and the Downhill in Val Gardena and is sure to be at the Olympics in Beijing.
© imago images
After his eighth place in the downhill in Val Gardena, skier Simon Jocher is sure to be at the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.
Val Gardena - When Simon Jocher (SC Garmisch) crossed the finish line at the Downhill World Cup in Val Gardena (Italy), he heard the audience cheering.
He looks around hectically, wanting to know what his journey on the Saslong has achieved.
When the 25-year-old sees the eight light up, he spreads his arms and lets out a cry of joy.
He stands in the South Tyrolean run circling with his ski pole and understands what he has just succeeded in doing.
Eighth place, best World Cup result of his career.
In addition, with this exclamation mark Jocher bought his Olympic ticket and will take part in the Beijing Games in February next year.
This is a huge event
Simon Jocher
"First I had to take a deep breath and realize what happened there," says Jocher. His cell phone never stopped vibrating on Saturday, he received so many congratulations. The Olympic norm was the big goal of the season, everything else was subordinate to it. “This is a huge event, the greatest. Even if it is certainly not the perfect place for the Games. ”Despite persistent criticism, the SCG athlete is looking forward to the major event in Beijing. How is the Grainauer's Chinese actually doing? "Catastrophic," explains Jocher with a laugh - and adds: "I hope I can get by with English."
That Jocher in Val Gardena would cause a sensation both in the Super-G - 15th place - and in the downhill was not necessarily to be expected in advance.
In the weeks before, the overseas speed specialist had had one or two difficult times.
“Specifically, I don't know why it went so much better this time.” One thing is clear: For an athlete from Werdenfelser Land, a trip to South Tyrol is much more pleasant than a stay of several weeks on the other side of the Atlantic.
"Four weeks overseas were probably a bit long at the back."
Simon Jocher: Contact to injured teammate Thomas Dreßen
Just behind Jocher, room colleague and specialist Josef Ferstl crossed the finish line in Val Gardena. If you share the accommodation while traveling, quotes will of course also fly between the roommates. “That was really funny in Val Gardena. I am happy for Pepi (Josef Ferstl; editor's note), he did not have an easy time. ”Another, who has had difficult months, almost years, is Thomas Dreßen. The dream of the Olympics has burst for the Mittenwald and German model ski runner of the past few years, the knee still needs some time. "We have contact now and then, I ask him what the injury looks like." However, Jocher gets more tips for the races from the experts on the track, who are simply closer to the action than Dreßen,who completed his rehab in Austria and had first contact with snow at least on cross-country skis.
At the Olympics, Jocher will hold up the Werdenfels flag alone, as far as the speed rider camp is concerned. Until then, however, there are still a few highlights - Bormio, Kitzbühel and Wengen - in the World Cup. Have expectations of Jocher increased after the Val Gardena coup? "Sure, something. However, the pressure of the Olympic qualification has also disappeared and a certain relief has given way. ”The Grainauer has another goal besides the Winter Games in Beijing: the World Cup final in Courchevel (France). What speaks against it? Quite simply, only the best 25 drivers in the World Cup ranking in Super-G and Downhill are allowed to start there. Jocher currently ranks 30th in the Super-G and 23rd in the Downhill. "Always score points" is the motto.So that it goes on and goals and dreams become reality.
