Lukas Klapfer, bronze medallist in the Individual Nordic Combined of the Normal Hill, was overjoyed about his biggest success so far. The 32-year-old Styrian had already thought of a career end several times, but now he also knows that staying persistent pays off.
APA: Congratulations on the bronze medal. How great is the joy of this?
Lukas Klapfer: Yes, I don’t know, I can’t be so happy yet, because I’m still so finished and struggling with tears. It’s a hell of a day.
APA: Can you describe a little bit what you did when you crossed the finish line?
Klapfer: I was able to close a little bit before that. So in the last downhill I knew that now there’s not much more that can happen to me if I don’t fly silly on my nose. Whoa, that was quite a relief. At the end of the day, I was glad that the Riiber threw behind me and I lost it.
APA: In the course of your career, you have already thought of a premature end and now you have won the Olympic bronze medal. So does it pay off to stay on it after all?
Klapfer: Not only once. I have thought about my career, I think I’ve completed it four times. I didn’t finish alone either, but also others. And it’s a bit of a satisfaction if you now show that it’s worth the effort and that some of them are quite wrong.
APA: Did you think about your family at that moment?
Klapfer: In any case, they have a lot of privations, I am on the road all winter long. And when the whole thing pays off, then it’s all the more beautiful.
APA: Did you think that there was more inside somewhere in the race?
Klapfer: No. I knew in the race that Eric (Frenzel) is too big today. I figured I could get away from Watabe with Eric in between. In the end, we had to keep Rydzek at a distance. Watabe and Eric were really strong, so I have to be happy with third place.
APA: You’ve always been considered a giant talent and never quite been able to put it into practice. When did you realize: this time I am a candidate for a medal?
Klapfer: It all started with the two podium places. I knew then that I was in a state of health now, because everyone really started and is in good shape. And I knew I was running in an area where I could absolutely run with the fastest. And on the hill you could see that I can always be in front again, a little bit unconstantly of course. I’ve had a lot of trouble with that too. But you can see that a little bit of persistence and persistence will pay off in the end.
APA: Is there still a small view of the Großanze?
Klapfer: You can’t say much yet, but I’m sure I’ll continue to concentrate on my work. And the jump I made today,’ harakiri’ and hoping that there will be an upwind in the slope, is enough for me on the big one.