At the age of 23, Gregor Schlierenzauer was chosen as the most successful ski jumper of all time – measured against World Cup victories.Four years later, an entirely new Schlierenzauer becomes part of his 13th birthday compared to his time.World Cup season.
“It’s starting over for me.I’m updated.I can’t buy anything of what was,”explains the 27-year-old Tyrolean in an interview with SPOX.In my time out, I have learned that everything in life is always reduced to love – love for things and people,”Schlierenzauer now sets other priorities.
In the interview, the exceptional talent practices self-criticism on his old self and reveals why he doesn’t want to be called Schlieri any more.
SPOX: You get the feeling that you have matured in your personality through your break.What are the biggest differences between Gregor Schlierenzauer at the beginning of his career and the current Gregor Schlierenzauer?
Gregor Schlierenzauer: The experiences I have made.I was still a child when I celebrated my first successes – I say this quite deliberately.When I was 16 years old, I had little experience in life.I have subordinated everything to success and could not live out certain life phases.Afterwards I took a break as a public figure to reflect on what has happened in my life so far.As a child you have a dream that you follow and it came true with me quickly.At some point, however, one only wants to jump more skis and to ignore the noise – like the public, stress and pressure.
SPOX: Do you feel like you missed something in your teenage years?
Schlierenzauer: I wouldn’t say missed.I’ve experienced a lot of things that others weren’t allowed to experience.But since I was nine years old, I have always focused on one goal.I didn’t have the time to live a normal life with normal thoughts.I took this time during my break.
SPOX: In a recent interview you said,”I don’t want to be the Schlieri any more”.Does that nickname bother you?
Schlierenzauer: I wouldn’t call it disturbing, but with the name “Schlieri” I feel so small and youthful.Schlieri “was once very nice and beautiful, but it’s a diminutive.I’m just the Gregor.
SPOX: This viewpoint is reminiscent of Bastian Schweinsteiger, who once also called on the media to call the name “Schweini” ad acta.Do you recognize any similarities?
Schlierenzauer: I don’t only see the parallels with Bastian Schweinsteiger.Sooner or later, many other athletes have had to go through this development in order to develop a mature personality after setbacks, such as Anna Veith, Tiger Woods or Michael Phelps.
SPOX: It sounds like you’re starting a second career since your time-out.
Schlierenzauer: Yes.It’s starting over for me.I’m updated.I can’t buy anything more of what I did.The memory remains, but now it continues.
SPOX: During your sabbatical and even before that, the books by Alexander Pointner and Thomas Morgenstern have drawn a new public image of you – as an ambitious thoroughbred athlete, who can certainly become loud.Did you deal with this feedback during the time-out?
Schlierenzauer: There were several things that hit me back then.When you raise this specific case, I have to say that not everything that was said at the time is correct.Thomas and I have been in the public eye since a young age, and of course there has been a lot of media coverage.As a teenager, you’re sometimes just simply burning hate’.The way I’ve been criticized by many quarters was simply the way I’ve been used to deal with this enormous pressure and the constant publicity I’ve had since childhood.In retrospect, it was certainly not the best method, but I didn’t know any other.It was like hiding under a cape.I never swallowed my opinion, but always spoke freely.Of course, it depends on how and when you say it.That’s a point you learn when you grow up.A certain egoism is part of being an athlete, but I have certainly not always reacted correctly.It was important to have these experiences.
SPOX: How would you describe your current relationship with your current team mates, Stefan Kraft and Michael Hayböck and Co?
Schlierenzauer: We are all three of a similar age.Nevertheless, due to my early successes, I took a completely different approach.For a long time there were no points of contact.But now we have a great team climate.
SPOX: You go to your 13th class.World Cup season.What did you do to get back to your old successes?
Schlierenzauer: Ski jumping has developed further.I have tried to analyse the experiences of last winter and to identify where there is still potential.In the area of power development I had to catch up a lot, and in addition I wanted to get back to where the music is playing.
SPOX: You mentioned the rapid developments in ski jumping.Were the developments of the past few years more likely to be to your advantage or disadvantage?
Schlierenzauer: For me, they were rather less good.It’s no big secret that I can’t play out my body shape just like that since the new bond was created.In addition, there were the tight suits, which put the airplane types at a disadvantage.Unfortunately, body weight and height are now playing a decisive role again.At the moment there is a tendency for smaller and lighter jumpers to have an advantage, but I gladly accept this challenge.
SPOX: The Olympic Games are coming up this season.What do you associate with the word Olympia?
Schlierenzauer: There is something mystical about the Olympic Games.Even as a little child I watched my uncle, the games are simply something special for every athlete, but not more (laughs).
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SPOX: Your Uncle Markus Prock is a good keyword.He was an excellent luge athlete and won everything there is to win – except Olympic gold.They are also running after the individual gold medal at the Olympic Games.
Schlierenzauer: A shame, right? (laughs)
SPOX: Not at all!But you know that athletes in public are often judged by titles and medals.Do you feel any pressure to get this gold?
Schlierenzauer: I learned in my time out that everything in life is always reduced to love – love for things and people.I have rediscovered my love for myself and ski jumping.It’s a huge privilege.I’ve been allowed to live many dreams.Of course, the Olympic gold medal is still missing in this list of successes, but it doesn’t matter whether I achieve this or not.One day later, the medal is dusty again.The only thing you can take with you as an athlete is the way to get there.Whether it finally arrives is in the stars.
SPOX: The Olympic Games have become more and more a moneymaking activity in recent decades.The needs of the sportsmen and women, as well as those of the local population, have receded into the background.Do you take a critical view of this development?
Schlierenzauer: The last few games were under a less good star as far as the surrounding area is concerned.But as an athlete, watching the world’s best athletes on television has left its mark on me.That was a driving force for me to drive with full motivation to the training.It’s great to watch the world’s best athletes perform at their best.Of course, there is also a lot of money in the game, but when I think of the Tyrolean Olympic bid – that would be a real win-win situation, Austria is simply a winter sports nation.The Tyrolean sports facilities would definitely be re-used.There would be no exaggerated gigantism.Sport would once again take centre stage.That is why I am still very positive about the Olympic Games.
SPOX: With Severin Freund, one of your strongest competitors is missing the Olympic Games due to an injury.You have experienced similar setbacks.How can you motivate yourself in the first place?
Schlierenzauer: If you believe in it and take time for your body, the motivation comes automatically.Of course you have to digest everything first, but if you watch the other athletes on TV you can take these positive emotions with you.In addition, you also learn how to put certain things into the right order.As I said, it’s all reduced to love in life.When you find out what gives you energy, it’s the greatest gift and then you can overcome any setback.
SPOX: Last question: Can you imagine jumping as long as Noriaki Kasai?
Schlierenzauer:”I was once very close to putting the skis in the corner.But now I’m very motivated by my time out.I enjoy ski jumping a lot.I have a fixed plan to jump at least until 2019.Then the home world championship will take place in Seefeld.After that we have to see if we are heading for the Olympic Games again.Noriaki is an enrichment for the ski jumping circus, but my case would not be to jump that long.