Last winter Renate Götschl was able to win the little crystal globe both in super-G and in downhill. Short after her 32th birthday on August 6th Austria´s speed queen talks to Ski2b about her last injury and her aims concerning the next season.
Ski2b.com: Hello Renate, congratulations to your 32th birthday! As an athlete is it allowed to celebrate at least a bit in the period of preparation before the season starts?
Renate Götschl: Thanks a lot! Well, of course you are allowed to celebrate a little bit. After all this day is something special.
Ski2b: Recently we received news about the surgery in your right foot. At the same time you underwent an athroskopy in your knee. How are you now after the treatment?
Renate: According to the circumstances quite well. Of course such a surgical intervention doesn´t pass by too easily. But meanwhile I´m used to it and know how to get along with it.
Ski2b: Why was the surgery necessary?
Renate: During the last weeks I noticed that there´s still something wrong with my knee. Two weeks ago I tried to complete a training on snow. But that was impossible because of the pain in my knee. So after I had talked to Dr. Christian Schenk and my trainer Kurt I decided to undergo this surgery.
Ski2b: When are you able to return to training and what do you do to compensate this break?
Renate: That´s hard to say. I will spend this week in Dr. Schrenks sanatorium in Schruns for rehabilitation and work with my physiotherapist Martin. After that we will see how it goes on.
Ski2b: Your second "Atomic-Season" is about to start. Are there any news about your equipment especially concerning the changed rules?
Renate: Thank god we have already tried out a lot in the last third of the past winter. Atomic has started to develop the new ski at an early point of time and therefore I´m quite satisfied.
Ski2b: After an almost perfect winter the expectations in 2007/2008 are very high. Do you feel more pressure than before?
Renate: No, not at all. Last season was a dream. Anything that follows now is a bonus. I want to enjoy skiing once again and that´s the most important thing. But I won´t put pressure on me.
Ski2b: You have almost won anything which is possible in World Cup. What´s your motivation right before the season starts to show once again such great performances?
Renate: Skiing is not only my job. It is a mission and I do it because it´s fun to me. So I don´t need any extra-motivation. I was lucky that I could turn my hobby into my job. Alone the thought of good race, the mood, the atmosphere is already pure motivation. Of course health is the condition for a good season.
Ski2b: Austria´s women team is very strong, many young skiers rise in rank - only in downhill you were the only one within the top ten of the World Cup. Can you tell me a reason for this?
Renate: During the past years emphasis was put on slalom and giant slalom. And - look at the results - it seems as if it was the right decision. But the slalom specialists Niki Hosp, Marlies Schild or also Liz Görgl get stronger and stronger in the speed disciplines. Then there is Andrea Fischbacher who will be strong from my point of view. And there´s our young team member Nicole Schmidhofer. So we don´t have to worry about the new blood in the speed competitions.
Ski2b: Do you expect new faces on the podium in downhill and super G in the winter 2007/2008?
Renate: I´m quite sure about that. But it´s difficult to say who it will be. Let´s wait and see!
Ski2b: What do you want to achieve next winter?
Renate: The finish ... as often as possible. But joking aside. The first aim is to regain a good shape because health is what counts first now. When I will have managed that I hope that I will be able to reach the shape of the past season. Then my next aim is the little crystal globe in downhill or super G.
Ski2b.com: Thank you, Renate - we wish you all the best for your convalescence and good luck - without further injuries.
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