Stephanie Venier defies special circumstances with her unexpected title win in the World Championship Super-G in Saalbach. She won gold because she defied medical advice.
06.02.2025, 16:04
06.02.2025, 16:34
SDA
She kept shaking her head, looking in disbelief at the large display board showing the rankings. Her name had been at the top since she crossed the finish line with bib number 7. Her name remained at the top, no one was faster. Stephanie Venier was world champion in the super-G. The Tyrolean, who is practically Beat Feuz's neighbor in Oberperfuss, still had trouble wrapping her head around what had happened after the end of the race. Of course she spoke of a dream. She didn't know what to say. Everything was surreal.
These are the reactions of a skier who had never, ever expected that this day would be her day, that she would win gold. Her results in the World Cup races so far this winter had been too varied, she had lacked the consistency to always be at the top of the rankings to be among the title and medal contenders these days in Saalbach.
These are also the reactions of a skier who does not occupy a leading role in Austria's women's team, who tends to move in the shadow of team colleagues such as Cornelia Hütter or Katharina Liensberger, a skier who rarely knows how to make the most of her potential, for whom the really big successes are like upward outliers. Eight years ago, one of these highs led to her winning the silver medal in the downhill at the World Championships in St. Moritz. After twelve years in the World Cup, she now has three victories in her palmarès.
Chronic knee problems
In St. Anton three and a half weeks ago, Stephanie Venier gave an indication of what would be possible if she could continue to pursue her profession under normal circumstances. She came second in the super-G on the Arlberg and fifth in the downhill. But that was about it. The other results were mainly disappointments.
Chronic knee problems prevent her from having a normal everyday life as a ski racer. These are serious problems that are causing Stephanie Venier problems. The exact circumstances are apparently not intended for the public. There is talk of damaged cartilage - and this has also become public in a roundabout way. Stephanie Venier herself did not want to make a big deal of it. She only says that both knees are affected.
The problems, which became more acute last winter, are definitely acute. The start of the current season was a particular challenge for her. "I really struggled with myself. I wasn't ready to race at all. I didn't want to either."
Christian Fink, Stephanie Venier's medical consultant, advised her to have an operation. She decided otherwise - partly so that she wouldn't have to miss out on taking part in the World Championships in Saalbach and probably also the Olympic Games next year. "Thanks to therapies, we have the whole thing under control," she says, who has also had to adjust her training. "It's quality over quantity." Since Thursday, she has had proof that she was literally spot on with her decision.
The explosive liaison
Her life partner Christian Walder, among others, supported her in her decision. The downhill specialist is currently struggling with physical deficits himself. Due to two slipped discs, he has now been forced to take a break for 14 months. Stephanie Venier's liaison with the Carinthian has a controversial background. Walder was in a relationship with Cornelia Hütter for almost a decade until a good two years ago.
Nothing has changed on Walder's side Stephanie Venier's diet. She still eats neither fruit nor vegetables. A top athlete without all the natural vitamins, even a world champion in super-G? The astonishment is great. Head shaking included.
