Slalom world champion Camille Rast talks in an interview about relaxation, inner peace and the fact that she is the first Swiss woman in 34 years and Vreni Schneider to win this title.
15.02.2025, 16:56
15.02.2025, 17:03
SDA
"World champion Camille Rast". How does that sound?
"Unbelievable. I still haven't really realized what happened."
You seemed completely calm today, as if you didn't feel any pressure. Is that impression correct?
"It's like that, yes. It's a single race in which everything is decided. If it works, then it works - and if it doesn't, then that's the way it is."
How did you approach this slalom? Like a normal race?
"Above all, I tried to stay relaxed. I managed to do that."
That sounds so simple. It was the World Championship slalom, the most important race of the winter. It's not easy to show a relaxed attitude.
"I talked about it with the coaches the week before the World Championships. You probably can't believe it, but we weren't so focused on this race here. There was a lot of looseness involved. At the World Championships, it's all about the medals. I knew that it was possible to win a medal. But I didn't put any pressure on myself, because the season has gone really well for me so far."
You were clearly the fastest in the first run and had a big lead. How did you deal with that?
"I tried to keep my composure. I was already very calm this morning. I just wanted to enjoy today (Saturday, editor's note) with this great crowd. As I said, everything is decided in one race at the World Championships. There are no World Cup points to be won, it's all about the medals. I just wanted to show my best skiing - and it worked out."
Where do you get this inner calm from?
"There's a lot of work behind it. All the good training also gives you confidence for the races."
In a recent interview, you said that a World Championship medal was not one of your goals for the season.
"Last summer, I thought that we would have a strong slalom group for the World Championships. Nevertheless, I didn't have such high expectations - partly because I didn't ski well in the slalom at the World Cup final here in Saalbach last March (8th place, ed.). Maybe it was better that way."
You are also number one in the slalom in the World Cup. You've had a great season so far. But there were also times when things didn't go so well. What gave you the energy or the belief that things would turn out well at some point?
"I'm glad that I've always kept fighting. It shows that you should never give up, that anything is always possible and that you have to be patient. I'm proud that I made it after all. But I also always had a good environment with my coaches, my family and my friends. I thank them all. They have always brought me from the bottom to the top. Without this environment, it would not be possible to achieve such performances."
Coach Denis Wicki is also part of this environment. A word about him.
"He is of course a very important reference person for me. We've known each other for a very long time and he's always supported me. It's nice to be able to experience this together with Denis. I hope there will be more great moments to come."
You are the first Swiss world champion in slalom for 34 years and Vreni Schneider. Are you interested in such historical facts?
"Vreni's victory is pretty far away for me. I wasn't even born then. But of course it's nice to be able to contribute something to history."
