Andrea Limbacher is a phenomenon, her fourth Olympic start after no less than five cruciate ligament tears, regardless of the outcome of tomorrow’s ski cross competition (7 a.m.) in Secret Garden, is a tremendous achievement. “It’s a sign that I’m pretty old, but it was my big goal to do it,” said the 32-year-old from St. Wolfgang in an interview with OÖN. Being there is not everything for the four-time World Cup winner and World Champion of 2015. “Even if the results of the season don’t look so good on paper, I would like to take something away from China.” Namely a medal.
“I’m a bit proud”
The road to the Winter Games was brutally rocky for “Limbo” and associated with pain and deprivation. “I’m a bit proud of myself that I did it again after my fifth serious knee injury (at the World Cup in Megeve in February 2020, note). It would have hurt my heart if I said it like that left and would have stopped”, the tireless fighter from the Salzkammergut lets look deeply. Thoughtful postscript: “I wouldn’t recommend anyone to do it like I did.”
From a medical point of view, it would probably have been more sensible to draw a line. But giving up has never been an option for Limbacher, who celebrated her umpteenth comeback on the Olympic course in November 2021. The Upper Austrian was tenth, her closer compatriot Johannes Rohrweck even fourth.
The Großraminger politely declined such a placement in the competition on Friday (4.45 a.m.). Tin is not in his sense. “The book is rewritten at the Olympics. When you’re here, you want to get a medal. I want to win every heat, otherwise I wouldn’t need to be here. It’s important that you drive brutally on day X and don’t give an inch,” emphasized the man they just call “Johnny” in the scene of daredevil ski artists, with whom there is almost always a risk of collision.
The 31-year-old already knows the feeling of triumph. On February 19, 2021, he celebrated his only World Cup victory to date on the Reiteralm. Rohrweck has established itself at the very top, but had to wait a long time for this moment. For the good friend of Alpine doubles world champion Vincent Kriechmayr, it is the Olympic debut, and Rohrweck was overwhelmed by the first impressions. “Everything is bigger, everything is better. On the first day we went to ski jumping to overcome jetlag. It’s impressive what was built there.”
The “chick” in the ÖSV team, Christina Födermayer from Utzenaich, is (still) relaxed before the premiere under the sign of the five rings and looking for the tingling sensation. “I drive best when I’m angry with myself,” revealed the 20-year-old, who was crowned junior team world champion in 2021.
But the Olympic Games are in a different category. Does not matter. “I have a little less pressure than the oldies and favorites, that can be an advantage.”
Source: Nachrichten
