Ski miracle: German-Austrian school friends out of nowhere at the top - surprise winner close to tears

Created: 01/10/2022, 11:58 AM

By: Florian Naumann, Andreas Knobloch

Emotional moment: Johannes Strolz and Linus Straßer after their success in Adelboden © Screenshot: ARD-Mediathek

Linus Straßer was a success.

But the focus was on an old school friend of the German - “he doesn't even have a serviceman,” wondered expert Felix Neureuther.

Adelboden - The alpine ski circus delivered a memorable race on Sunday in Adelboden, Switzerland - not only because, despite the enormous number of Corona cases, thousands of spectators crowded into the finish area to watch the slalom race.

In terms of sport, the focus was on two extraordinary success stories, some with German participation.

Everything overshadowed the highly emotional comeback of the Austrian Johannes Strolz.

Even the competition exuberantly congratulated the Vorarlberg resident on his first World Cup victory after a long period of suffering.

Ski World Cup in Adelboden: Surprise winner Strolz close to tears - "He doesn't even have a service man"

The German Linus Straßer jumped from 14th to third place.

In the second run he showed a fabulous run and was able to secure a place on the podium - and the participation norm for the Olympics in Beijing.

Strolz had been kicked out of the Austrian squad before the season and from then on trained with the Germans.

Already on the podium of the race leader the 29-year-old almost came to tears.

"What do I have to do now?" He asked himself audibly as the triumph came within reach.

The defeated Austrian slalom crack Manuel Feller bowed to Strolz after crossing the finish line, and Straßer hugged his old friend emotionally before the award ceremony.

The two ski racers once went to school together in Austria.

ARD expert Felix Neureuther was also happy for the surprise winner: "He straightened his skis himself, he didn't even have a serviceman," he emphasized.

Skiing miracles for Strolz and Straßer: School friends will surprise you with top places in Adelboden

For Strolz, the first ever victory in the World Cup was - more than eight years after his debut in the concert of the greats.

He started the race with starting number 38 and finished seventh in the first run.

Nobody could do anything against his run in the second run - not even Feller.

He pushed himself out of second place between Strasser and Feller.

The best of the first round - compatriot Fabio Gstrein - was eliminated.

An Austrian triple success did not materialize.

With his third run, Straßer qualified for the Olympic Winter Games * in Beijing, which will take place in the Chinese capital from February 4 to February 20, and is already in good shape.

Alpine skiing: Straßer visibly satisfied with the ARD microphone

"The conditions are incredibly difficult and I managed not to make any huge mistakes," said the technician on ARD, commenting on his best result of the season.

Most recently, Straßer fell significantly short of expectations in the World Cup and missed the top 10 in each case.

David Ketterer achieved the second best World Cup result of his career with 23rd place.

Anton Tremmel, Julian Rauchfuss and Fabian Himmelsbach had missed the final run.

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