The dream of an Olympic medal ended yesterday for ski crosser Johannes Rohrweck in the semifinals in the Genting Snow Park. Third in the race, Großraminger, who ultimately finished seventh and was the best Austrian, missed promotion to the grand final by just one place. Rohrweck was sobered afterwards. “You visualize it beforehand, you want a medal. If it’s not like that, it hurts,” said the 31-year-old.
Victory went to the Swiss Ryan Regez, who stayed ahead of his compatriot Alex Fiva and the Russian Sergej Ridsik in the decision. Rohrweck had maneuvered his way through the round of 16 and quarterfinals in pair skating with the overall World Cup leader Regez. They only parted ways in the semifinals, when the Swede Erik Mobärg, who later placed fourth, rose with Regez.
Sarcastic finale
In the World Cup, the small final for places five to eight is relevant in terms of points, but this is irrelevant at the Olympics. “There is a bit of a special atmosphere among the small finalists. You can feel a bit of sarcasm at the start,” said Rohrweck, who, despite his disappointment, summed it up soberly. One or two percent were missing, nothing more.
For the other Austrians, it was the end of the line earlier: Tristan Takats (15th) drove into the ski ends of Canadian Jared Schmidt in the quarter-finals, causing him to lose the ideal line. “The pace was completely gone, then I didn’t have a chance,” said the Lower Austrian. In the round of 16 heat with Takats, Robert Winkler (30th) fell by the wayside in his “probably last games”. The fourth Austrian, Adam Kappacher, finished 22nd.
Source: Nachrichten
