“I’ve always dreamed of that. I’ve had to put up with so much and have to fight,” said Ariane Rädler through tears. The woman from Vorarlberg was third in the Super-G in Zauchensee on a World Cup podium for the first time on Sunday. The 26-year-old was only 0.17 seconds behind winner Federica Brignone (Ita), who won ahead of Corinne Suter (Sui/+0.04). Rädler had already survived four cruciate ligament tears in her career. The injuries had shaped the life of the technician from Möggers to such an extent that there was no longer any time for a hobby. “The last four or five years have only been about rehabilitation and training,” said Rädler, who had sometimes asked herself the question of meaning. “With the first three cruciate ligaments it was clear that I hadn’t yet been able to show what I was capable of. But after the fourth it got pretty steep because I didn’t know if I’d ever dare again.”
After fifth place in St. Moritz and third place in Zauchensee, it is clear that Rädler has bought the Olympic ticket to Beijing. “Of course I hope to be there. It’s just a brutal nail-biter because of Corona,” said Rädler.
The next best Austrians – Ramona Siebenhofer (11th), Tamara Tippler (13th) and Mirjam Puchner (14th) – ended up outside the top ten in the Super-G.
The descent in Zauchensee on Saturday went to the Swiss Lara Gut-Behrami, who won a tenth of a second ahead of the German Kira Weidle and 0.44 seconds ahead of the third-placed Siebenhofer.
Mörzinger third in the European Cup
Mühlviertler Elisa Mörzinger collected points and self-confidence in the European Cup: The 24-year-old finished third and fifth in the giant slalom in Orcieres-Merlette, France.
Source: Nachrichten
