South Tyrol’s Olympians: These are their biggest “fans”

The sport has Stefano Ballo (28) from Bolzano was born in the cradle. His mother Roberta Miori was on the starting line as a runner in national and international competitions. “That’s why I know how much hard work and how much training goes into success,” the proud mother explains today. Even as a small boy, Stefano Ballo went to training regularly: “In the beginning, as a child, four times a week. Then more often later,” remembers the single mother. But no matter how much effort, time and strength Stefano's dream took, Roberta Miori always found the right words to motivate her little champion. “Being an athlete is not easy. “It’s not just the physical part that has to fit, but also the head,” she knows. But where needed, she was there for Stefano, motivated him when he lost motivation and supported him wherever she could. She watches the Olympics from home. “It’s his experience and he should experience it for himself and enjoy it,” she wishes him.

If Michael Piccolruz If you climb the climbing wall in Tokyo as quickly as possible, then he will probably be particularly tense sitting at home in front of the television: Alfons Dornauer. Himself a former professional competitive climber and roommate of the South Tyrolean Olympic candidate. He understands exactly what the Olympics mean for an athlete. But he also knows: “Michael takes the preparation very seriously. But he still doesn't lose sight of his other World Cup competitions." Because as roommate and fellow climber Dornauer knows, a lot can happen at the Olympics: a bad day. “The Olympics are of course a highlight for every athlete. But it's just a snapshot. That’s why Michael doesn’t focus everything on this one competition.” Climbing professional Michael Piccolruaz © Marco Iacono

For this reason, the mood in the climbing shared apartment - because the Austrian professional climber and Olympic candidate Jakob Schubert also lives with Piccolruaz and Dornauer - is still quite relaxed. For the Austrian roommate, the climbing competition at the Olympics will probably be twice as emotional. “I will watch the competitions and keep my fingers crossed for my two roommates. But of course, as a former professional, you wish for a moment in these moments that you were still there.”

Verena Steinhauser has worked its way up to strong competition in the international field of triathletes (sprint and Olympic disciplines) in recent years. A large part of her success can also be attributed to her friend and trainer Simone Mantolini. “We actually found the perfect balance between training and private time out. At home we rarely talk about sport and when we train we face each other as athletes,” explains Mantolini. He is lucky enough to be one of two “tecnici” to accompany Verena Steinhauser to Tokyo. The Olympics have been their goal for the last four years, but they are not excited about that: “We always believed in ourselves, even if no one else did at the beginning. We have worked hard and are confident in what we do,” explains Mantolini. But even the experienced trainer is not completely immune to the nervousness before such an important competition. “I can never look at the start for the first few seconds,” laughs Simone Mantolini. But even if he doesn't do it, millions of people around the world will. And see how Verena Steinhauser from Brixen jumps into the water with the best triathletes in the world. South Tyrol's best mountain biker: Gerhard Kerschbaumer © am

Also the South Tyrolean mountain biker Gerhard Kerschbaumer will fly to Tokyo soon. This is his second Olympic experience, as Kerschbaumer also took part in the mountain bike cross-country discipline in London in 2012. At that time, the then U23 driver finished in a strong 13th place. A few years have passed since this success and Gery was able to celebrate new successes - on and off the racetrack. In 2018 he won his first World Cup victory and became runner-up world champion. The following year the wedding bells rang for him and Elisabeth. Just a few months later, his son Jakob was born. They are also the ones who, together with the rest of his family and Gery's colleagues, keep their fingers crossed from home when Kerschbaumer competes for the Olympic medals. It remains to be seen whether the congratulations from his fans will spill over to Tokyo - but what is certain is that there are a few more fingers crossed for him compared to 2012.

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South Tyrol’s Olympians: These are their biggest “fans”

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